News

Food pantries struggle to meet holiday needs

Demand sparks rush to furnish fowl for local families

Kyle Carter

Dot Barbee and Barry Sheffield check the food at Crossroads Ministries in Old Town to ensure it is safe to donate. Area food pantries have faced a decline in donations lately, worrying many food pantry area officials in expectation of the upcoming holiday season.

By Matthew Soucy

Posted on Nov. 17, 2011, at 12:59 a.m.

BANGOR — A Bangor food pantry is counting on more donations for its Thanksgiving food drive after an unusual amount of families requested turkeys for the upcoming holiday.

Bill Ray, executive director of Manna Ministries, a social service provider assisting those in the greater Bangor area, said the food pantry received 2,500 turkeys and one duck as of Wednesday afternoon and that he is hopeful the donations will increase as Thanksgiving draws near.

Earlier in the week, Ray announced that the ministry anticipated the need for a total of 6,700 turkeys, 1,000 more than Manna expected.

Without such a surge, he is worried the ministry will fall within range of not receiving the number of turkeys needed, though he refuses to give up.

“To be honest, yes, I am worried,” he said. “While I’m worried, the second answer is yes — yes we will meet the goal because I know somehow we’re going to do it, and I will not even entertain [failure] as an option.

“I never have — and do not plan on — turning anyone away.”

Manna Ministries is not the only food cupboard in the area dealing with larger-than-average demand for meals this Thanksgiving.

The Crossroads Food Pantry in Old Town reported a 20 percent increase in the requests for meal baskets and turkeys.

Keith Whitmore, director of the pantry said turkeys are his greatest concern. Thus far, the pantry is three-quarters of the way to the 400 turkeys requested from his facility.

“I’m pretty sure I will be fine,” Whitmore said. “We had our turkey drive last weekend, and combined with our local sponsors, we should make the goal.”

Whitmore said he received generous donations from businesses such as Hannaford, IGA, and the YMCA.

Both Ray and Whitmore blamed a stagnant economy for the increase in families asking for assistance this Thanksgiving.

“We’re finally looking up at our economy from the bottom of the barrel,” Ray said. “There isn’t anything left to trickle down to the middle class and the poor.”

Specifically, Ray said the rise in the cost of living, gas and heating oil prices, and the rising cost of food is putting a hole in consumer’s pockets.

“The numbers have gone up because the size of families is increasing for a multitude of reasons,” Whitmore said. “The average size of a family last holiday season was 4.5 members. This season, families are averaging 7.5 members, which is a spike.”

Ray shared Whitmore’s sentiment, saying families are increasing in size not because of more births, but because individual families can no longer afford to live on their own, forcing some to move in with extended family.

Manna will continue to collect turkeys through Sunday. Those who would like to donate, according to Ray, can stop by the ministry on Main Street in Bangor and make a $10 donation or drop off a turkey.

Donations are also being collected in the parking lot at the Hannaford on Wilson Street in Brewer.

According to Ray, Z107.3, the radio station undertaking the effort in the parking lot of the Brewer Hannaford, received 1,000 turkeys as of Wednesday, and he hopes they will receive 3,000.

Manna is also getting some help from the brothers of Kappa Delta Phi, who are holding the UMaine Family Feast on Nov. 20. Proceeds from the $10 cover charge for the all-you-can-eat buffet in the Memorial Union will go toward Manna’s turkey drive.

Similiarly, the Kappa Delta Phi fundraiser is moving a bit slower than the brothers had hoped.

“The turnout is all right,” said fourth-year political science student and Kappa Delta Phi Brother David Ouellette. “It’s a little bit slow but it’s also the first time our fraternity has ever done this before, so we hope that there will be more people by the time Sunday roles around.”

Kappa Delta Phi assists Manna often, and Ouellette said they hope to assist the facility in any way possible. The event will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Memorial Union, where tickets will also be available until Nov. 18.

Ray wished to address the public as well, struggling through his enthusiasm to find the right words.

“People should feel compassionate and want to help their neighbors out,” he said. “It shouldn’t take guilt to get people to act.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 17th, 2011, 12:59 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.