‘Suddenly poor’ are

adding to the numbers

turning to hunger fighting

agencies for help
By Scott Nicholson

While many local service agencies are seeing a decline in donations and recessions, one of the most critical basic needs is touching broader segments of society.

Tracey Karcher, who operates Casting Bread Food Pantry for FaithBridge United Methodist Church near Blowing Rock, said a number of hunger fighting agencies in Watauga County are serving more people with fewer resources, with churches also taking a service role.

There are four other food pantries in the county, besides Casting Bread, that are partners with Feeding America and the Second Harvest Food Bank of western North Carolina, Karcher said.

“All the food ministries, we need each other,” Karcher said. “These other, smaller food pantries are necessary, and we encourage clients to go from pantry to pantry. These were never designed to meet all the food needs of a family, but now they don't have a choice.”

The Casting Bread Food Pantry is operated by FaithBridge, which has 110 members, but the food pantry’s client roll has more than 400 people.

“On average, our families go to at least three food pantries a month, just to get enough to eat,” Karcher said.

Church-based food pantries are eligible to distribute food through government grants or related programs, and the federal stimulus package boosts funds for food stamps and hunger prevention.

Karcher said the Second Harvest Food Bank would benefit from the additional funding, and that would trickle down to the smaller agencies.

“In 2007, we distributed 18,000 pounds of food to an average of 50 families a month,” Karcher said. “In 2008, we distributed 32,500 pounds to an average of 100 families per month. In 2009 so far, we are serving an average of 156 families per month.”

The Casting Bread Food Pantry serves a multi-county area, with clients coming from as far away as Mountain City, Tenn., and Caldwell County.

“Instead of being a ‘box’ ministry, we allow clients to shop, picking off the shelves what suits them the best (at no cost),” she said. “People can browse our shelves and pick out the things they want and can use. The problems with boxes is that people get things they won’t eat or can’t eat.”

During the holidays, food banks were well stocked, but the crumbling economy has put a drain on resources and rising unemployment has left people scrambling for their next meal.

“We’ve more than doubled our usage since 2007, and I anticipate it to double again this year, based on the economic climate,” she said. “To meet the need, we’re going to have to seek sources of funding outside the area. There’s just no other way.”

Karcher said the FaithBridge United Methodist Church has an outreach budget of 10 percent, with 8 percent supporting the food pantry. The church accepts private donations as well, with the Blowing Rock Cub Scout Pack and Scout Troop 101 recently delivering about 800 pounds of food.

“That was a huge help,” Karcher said. “But we’re going through about 1,000 or 1,200 pounds of food a week.”

The agencies have begun meeting and hope to collaborate on their needs, even though in some ways each agency has a unique purpose and situation.

The needs are food, volunteers, money, freezers and refrigeration equipment. Karcher encourages people to bring canned goods to their churches and other donation locations, supporting any or all of the hunger fighting agencies.

“I do believe with all my heart that God has put me in this place for this purpose,” Karcher said.

She also manages a flock of 40 chickens sponsored by church members, with the eggs going to pantry clients.

The chickens produce about 25 eggs a day, and she foresees more local food creation efforts, such as community gardens, to help meet need.

Karcher said there was competition among different agencies for donations, resources and funding, even though they all had the same goal of feeding the hungry.

“There’s just not enough,” Karcher said. “Donations to Second Harvest are down 20 percent. The needs of all the food pantries have increased. It’s mind-boggling.”

She said there was a level of exhaustion in the community, because people are reminded so often of the increased need.

She said while the chronically poor population would always be part of society, current conditions have created a whole new class of the hungry.

“I’m seeing more and more families co-habitating, where out of eight to 10 people, perhaps one is working. Many of our families have no reliable income, living on the ‘underground economy.’

“Only half of our clients are eligible for food stamps, and of those, only two-thirds draw them. Most of our families have children in the home. Many have never needed assistance before. These I call the ‘Suddenly Poor,’” she said.

Karcher said many clients feel more comfortable seeking assistance in a church setting. She said part of her work is in comforting the clients and assuring them that they would work together “to get through this.”
“We want to care for the whole person, not just feed them,” Karcher said.

Local Hunger Fighting Agencies
• Casting Bread Food Pantry at FaithBridge UMC — (828) 295-8333
• Health And Hunger Coalition —
(828) 262-1628
• Hospitality House — (828) 264-1237
• Seeds of Hope at All Things Possible Church — (828) 265-2000
• Living Water Christian Fellowship —
(828) 264-4079
• Christian Outreach Ministry at First Baptist, Boone — (828) 264-2441