Food shortage a crisis for Mercer County food banks
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Two jars of peanut butter.
That’s all that lined the shelves of the Mercer County Emergency and Community Services food pantry, on N. Warren St., Trenton, when Lisa Thibault, communications manager for Catholic Charities, made a visit on Oct. 25.
Thibault stressed that the Catholic Charities food pantry, and the clients it serves, are in desperate need. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said, noting that they’ve had to cut back on the number of people they can serve each day.
A similar shortage exists in Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton, said Dominican Sister Loretta Maggio, director of the emergency assistance program, who explained that the causes for the shortages were varied. They include the recent government shutdown which prevented federal and state food deliveries to Mercer Street Food Bank.
The Food Bank supplies food each year to more than 60 organizations in Mercer County, including Mount Carmel. In addition, there has been a significant increase of the number of people needing assistance. Looking ahead, the Guild is preparing for an increased need when food stamp assistance is cut back on Nov. 1.
Thibault also expressed concern for those who will lose their food stamp supplements, and the growing need among those who were already working but who require help providing food for themselves or their families. In addition, working families seem to be experiencing financial strains that are preventing them from making donations as they may have in the past.
For those who wish to donate food, protein items such as tuna and peanut butter, are always needed. Also, pasta, sauce, jelly, mayo, cereal and juice boxes for children.
Mercer County Emergency and Community Services food pantry is located at 132 North Warren Street, Trenton. Drop offs can be made weekdays between 9 a.m. -4 p.m. The contact person is Food Pantry Case Manager Talaya Woodall, 609-394-2172 x2500.
In addition, an on-line food drive for the Catholic Charities food pantry will begin on Oct. 31, which will allow donors to either make a financial donation or purchase food that will be delivered directly to the food pantry. For more information go to http://www.yougivegoods.com/drive.php?id=2183.
Mount Carmel Guild is located at 73 North Clinton Avenue, Trenton, 609-392-5159. Donations may be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]Related Stories
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Two jars of peanut butter.
That’s all that lined the shelves of the Mercer County Emergency and Community Services food pantry, on N. Warren St., Trenton, when Lisa Thibault, communications manager for Catholic Charities, made a visit on Oct. 25.
Thibault stressed that the Catholic Charities food pantry, and the clients it serves, are in desperate need. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said, noting that they’ve had to cut back on the number of people they can serve each day.
A similar shortage exists in Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton, said Dominican Sister Loretta Maggio, director of the emergency assistance program, who explained that the causes for the shortages were varied. They include the recent government shutdown which prevented federal and state food deliveries to Mercer Street Food Bank.
The Food Bank supplies food each year to more than 60 organizations in Mercer County, including Mount Carmel. In addition, there has been a significant increase of the number of people needing assistance. Looking ahead, the Guild is preparing for an increased need when food stamp assistance is cut back on Nov. 1.
Thibault also expressed concern for those who will lose their food stamp supplements, and the growing need among those who were already working but who require help providing food for themselves or their families. In addition, working families seem to be experiencing financial strains that are preventing them from making donations as they may have in the past.
For those who wish to donate food, protein items such as tuna and peanut butter, are always needed. Also, pasta, sauce, jelly, mayo, cereal and juice boxes for children.
Mercer County Emergency and Community Services food pantry is located at 132 North Warren Street, Trenton. Drop offs can be made weekdays between 9 a.m. -4 p.m. The contact person is Food Pantry Case Manager Talaya Woodall, 609-394-2172 x2500.
In addition, an on-line food drive for the Catholic Charities food pantry will begin on Oct. 31, which will allow donors to either make a financial donation or purchase food that will be delivered directly to the food pantry. For more information go to http://www.yougivegoods.com/drive.php?id=2183.
Mount Carmel Guild is located at 73 North Clinton Avenue, Trenton, 609-392-5159. Donations may be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]