A HUNGER TO HELP: St. Paul’s food bank reports increasing need

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Staff photo by C.E. Branham
Staff photo by C.E. Branham

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February 3, 2010

By DAVID A. MANN The News and Tribune Wed Feb 03, 2010, 08:37 PM EST

When St. Paul’s Episcopal Church opened its food pantry in September, the giving and getting got off to a slow start.

“It was just me and my daughter and four other people,” said Martha, a Jeffersonville resident who declined to give her last name for this story.

A few months can make a world of difference. Within the first 10 minutes that the food bank opened its doors on a recent Wednesday, residents from a number of area households packed the church basement where the food bank takes place.

A line of people stretched around metal pantry shelves, industrial refrigerators and checker-clothed tables seeking out items. Trays of meat, paper cartons of juice and boxes of cereal were grabbed andshoved into bags as quickly as they were laid out.

Martha said she shops at local grocery stores as well, but having a food bank available “really helps” when it comes to making ends meet on her disability income.

It’s a free-choice bank, rather than one wherein preloaded boxes of food are handed out. Residents can take the items off shelves and tables similar to the way patrons shop a grocery store.

“This is a lot better,” she said.

On the last Wednesday in January, in the two-hour period that the bank stays open each Wednesday, about 23 people came into the church basement, said The Rev. Steve Benner.

He attributes the uptick not only to rising need and spreading word, but the fact that more food was available. January 27 was the first time the food bank began getting its food supply from Louisville-based Dare To Care Food Bank, an operation that supports numerous area charities.

Prior to that, church members and volunteers had been purchasing food at retail price, spending about $300 per week.

“That same $300 buys us 2 1/2 tons” when buying from Dare To Care, Benner said.

Dare to Care is an independent, nonprofit organization with a 55,000-square-foot warehouse, which includes a 100,000 cubic foot freezer and a 50,000 cubic foot cooler, according to its Web site, daretocare.org. In 2008, it procured and distributed 12.1 million pounds of food. It distributes through a network of 320 independent food pantries, emergency kitchens, and shelters.

Volunteers from St. Paul’s brought 4,500 pounds of food into the church basement Jan. 27.

“We saw our need rising and rising and rising,” Benner said.

Dare To Care’s partnership with stores, corporations and other donators makes it easier for St. Paul’s to get the food it needs to meet the demand, he added.

“The goal is to hit 100 households this year,” Benner said, noting that the way things are going, that could happen in a matter of weeks. St. Paul’s has about 114 active members. About a dozen volunteers help to run the food bank program between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. every Wednesday.

“It’s good to see the enthusiasm in our congregation.”

Benner said more volunteers are needed to help carry food from the delivery trucks to the church basement every week. Those interested in volunteering can contact the church at 812-282-1108.

“It feels great. It shows just how great the need is in our community.”

WHEN IT’S OPEN

• The food bank at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 321 E. Market St., Jeffersonville is open from 4 to 6 p.m. each Wednesday.

WANT TO HELP?

• St. Paul’s is looking for volunteers to help with its food bank program. Those interested can contact the church at 812-282-1108. The church’s Web site is www.stpaulsjeff.org