Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Empty shelves



Our Common Cupboard food pantry is struggling to stock its shelves as the number of people seeking help this summer continues to rise. 

The summer months are traditionally tough on food pantries, but the Cupboard is experiencing a more than 30 percent increase in the number of families it's serving since this time last year. WOW!

Did you know that our Common Cupboard at Mill Grove walk-in food pantry on Monday evenings is currently the only regularly-scheduled federal The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in Union County? 
That Hemby Bridge site alone is providing a week's worth of groceries for an average of 70 families each week – an increase of more than 20 families per week than the same time last year. The number of monthly food deliveries from the Cupboard has increased too.

During the summer, food drives often decrease just as more families seek help with feeding children who don't have free or reduced meal options through local schools. Even Second Harvest Food Bank – where we acquire a large portion of food as a partner agency – is having trouble keeping up with demand in their 19-county service area.

Sometimes we aren't able to find some of the staples we need at Second Harvest. They're facing the strain of trying to serve so many counties experiencing the same thing that we are. Though we've had a tremendous response from local residents recently, we're way behind in what we need. We need the public's help to continue to feed our neighbors in need.

Urgent needs are: Pasta, pasta sauce (cans or plastic containers preferred), cereal, canned tuna or other meats, soups, canned fruit and veggies, beans and rice. Cash donations are also being accepted to allow us to purchase food from local stores. 
To donate, visit http://TheCommonplace.org or donate in person at Common Things Thrift Store, 321 Indian Trail Road North, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues. to Sat.


Nonperishable food donations can be dropped off at Common Things from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues. to Sat. or at the Cupboard, 116 Business Park Drive, suite A, Wed. to Fri. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or Sat. 9 a.m. to noon.  

THANK YOU! 

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