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The slumping economy is causing families to seek ways to keep themselves fed with reduced income or no income at all.
The Pratt Christian Food Bank has seen an increase in the number of boxes, families and the number of persons served in the first three months of the year compared with the first three months of 2010, said Diana Harris, Food Bank Board President.
In January, February and March of 2011 the food bank has handed out 248 boxes and served 794 people. Some of the number of people served are probably duplicates.
For the same period in 2010 the Food Bank handed out 170 boxes of goods and served 521 people.
The increase has put a strain on the Food Bank supplies and more donations are always needed.
The process for families or individuals needing assistance from the food bank is simple. A family member needs to come to the Food Bank at 111 West Fourth Street during regular business hours to fill out a form and bring some proof of residency in Pratt County.
The proof of residency can be a driver’s license, utility bill or rent receipt, said Food Bank volunteer Martha Hunter.
The form requires the family members, any employment or unemployment, children and ages, any disability, Social Security or no income. Clients also have to give a reason why they need the food and any other food source, Harris said.
Some people come to the Food Bank on their own accord while the Social and Rehabilitation Services or churches recommend the Food Bank for food assistance.
The Food Bank doesn’t do any kind of background or employment checks on clients.
“We’re not set up for that kind of screening,” Harris said.
The Food Bank families are an honest group. They will notify the bank if they have a change such as someone moving in or out or a change in name because of a marriage, Harris said.
In 2010 the Food Bank gave out a total of 830 boxes, served 365 individual families and served a total of 2,704 clients. The client number includes some repeats.
Clients are allowed to get five boxes a year and they cannot get boxes two months in a row.
With that amount of food going out the Food Bank is always in need of donations of food or money. Any canned goods are always accepted but donors need to make sure of the expiration date. The Food Bank has to throw away any food that has passed the expiration date printed on the packaging.
Several organizations make regular donations of food to the bank while others make regular money donations and that keeps the Food Bank supplied.
“The community of Pratt has done a very good job in the past to donate money for the purchase food,” Harris said.
Even with the regular donations, the Food Bank can always use more. Money donations are a good way to help. It allows the staff to purchase what they need the most.
The slumping economy is causing families to seek ways to keep themselves fed with reduced income or no income at all.
The Pratt Christian Food Bank has seen an increase in the number of boxes, families and the number of persons served in the first three months of the year compared with the first three months of 2010, said Diana Harris, Food Bank Board President.
In January, February and March of 2011 the food bank has handed out 248 boxes and served 794 people. Some of the number of people served are probably duplicates.
For the same period in 2010 the Food Bank handed out 170 boxes of goods and served 521 people.
The increase has put a strain on the Food Bank supplies and more donations are always needed.
The process for families or individuals needing assistance from the food bank is simple. A family member needs to come to the Food Bank at 111 West Fourth Street during regular business hours to fill out a form and bring some proof of residency in Pratt County.
The proof of residency can be a driver’s license, utility bill or rent receipt, said Food Bank volunteer Martha Hunter.
The form requires the family members, any employment or unemployment, children and ages, any disability, Social Security or no income. Clients also have to give a reason why they need the food and any other food source, Harris said.
Some people come to the Food Bank on their own accord while the Social and Rehabilitation Services or churches recommend the Food Bank for food assistance.
The Food Bank doesn’t do any kind of background or employment checks on clients.
“We’re not set up for that kind of screening,” Harris said.
The Food Bank families are an honest group. They will notify the bank if they have a change such as someone moving in or out or a change in name because of a marriage, Harris said.
In 2010 the Food Bank gave out a total of 830 boxes, served 365 individual families and served a total of 2,704 clients. The client number includes some repeats.
Clients are allowed to get five boxes a year and they cannot get boxes two months in a row.
With that amount of food going out the Food Bank is always in need of donations of food or money. Any canned goods are always accepted but donors need to make sure of the expiration date. The Food Bank has to throw away any food that has passed the expiration date printed on the packaging.
Several organizations make regular donations of food to the bank while others make regular money donations and that keeps the Food Bank supplied.
“The community of Pratt has done a very good job in the past to donate money for the purchase food,” Harris said.
Even with the regular donations, the Food Bank can always use more. Money donations are a good way to help. It allows the staff to purchase what they need the most.
