Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 8, 1994 TAG: 9401080196
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We have seen an increase in the demand for food from the different pantries and shelters that have more people coming in from the cold," said Dora Campbell, operations manager of the Southwest Virginia Community Food Bank. The food bank serves an area stretching from Alleghany County to Henry County and down to the coalfields.
Beans, peas, potatoes, meat and other staples "are practically nonexistent," she said.
Some churches and other charitable organizations, which provide meals to the needy, have been turned away from the food bank because of its empty shelves and had to shop at grocery stores, Campbell said.
Supply is down because grocery stores are reducing excess food that is donated, she said. Also, farmers are cutting back, meaning less crops to glean after the harvests, Campbell said.
"We're going to make it through, but it's going to be tough," said Capt. Steve Smith, commanding officer of the Salvation Army in Charlottesville.
Smith said monetary donations are down about $12,000 from the 1992 year-end amount of $160,000. Revenue from the annual Christmas kettle drive was about $67,000, about $4,000 more than last year, but most of that money was spent on Christmas meals and toys.
"We've gotten a lot more requests this winter," said Margaret Riley, the executive director of the Valley Mission in Staunton. "A lot of people seem to have lost their jobs, or their job hours have been reduced."
The mission operates a shelter and soup kitchen and also offers food baskets, clothing and chapel services. It normally serves 15 people for lunch and 30 to 35 for dinner, but Riley said the number climbed during the two snowstorms that hit in the past two weeks.
"We've had as many as 50, depending on the weather and how they can get here," she said.
by CNB