Food Bank's Shelves Suffering

The food bank at the East Cooper Community Outreach is a place people turn when in need. The problem lately is that so many people are asking for help, many of the food bank’s shelves are empty.

In addition to greater need, many people just don’t donate during the summer.Vacations and those ubiquitous grade-school food drives cut the food bank's supply lines. So the food bank is turning to the public and asking for extra donations.

"In the summer, people go on vacation, schools aren’t in session, so we see fewer donations," said Amy Barch, director of programs. "This is a typical situation for us, so we have been reaching out to the community."

The food bank needs the normal foodstuffs: canned goods and non-perishables, such as pasta and food mixes. Of course, monetary donations help, too.

The Outreach, a non-profit religious charity, has had some response to its call for more donations, Barch said. Some groups have stepped forward to hold summer food drives, but so far the food hasn’t started rolling in.

Already, the food bank is scaling back how much food it gives its patrons.

"It’s always a little disconcerting. Families are allowed to come in a certain amount of times in a month, but if we are low, we can't give them as much food," Barch said.

The food bank typically sees 10 to 25 families daily. Each family gets 30 to 40 pounds of food, and even a large food drive usually nets 1,000 pounds of food, so that means one large drive could supply the food bank for just a day.

The shortages aren't uncommon. Food banks across the country have reported increased demand as the economy struggles, according to a Huffington Post report. One New York food bank reported a 300 percent increase in demand.

That’s led some facilities to consider charging for certain fresh foods and to even give out dented or damaged cans, items previously considered unsafe for consumption. Those aren’t options on the table at the East Cooper food bank.

For now, the food bank thinks it can handle its increased demand simply through asking the community for help, Barch said.

Anyone interested in making donations, may do so in person at 1145 Six Mile Road, Mount Pleasant. The charity also has beyond helping with the food bank.