Salvation Army of Southern Illinois starts campaign to combat rising demand
MARION, Ill. (KBSI) – With recent budget cuts, and rising utility prices, one local food pantry says they are struggling to keep up as more families grapple to put food on the table.
The Salvation Army of Southern Illinois is struggling to meet the demand as they say, more and more families are coming for help, but less and less resources are available.
They say they rely on resources from a food bank in Illinois, but they’re not getting as much food to give to out. So, the food is in decline, but the need is going up.
According to the Associate Director of the Salvation Army of Southern Illinois Darla Harms, they’ve seen a 43% increase in families receiving food from their food pantry. She shares that multiple factors have attributed to the increase of families in need.
“So, with SNAP benefits being cut and increasing utility prices, and then rent has gone up 40% across the state this last year, it’s, more people are struggling” says Harms. “I think if it’s just one thing were going up or there was just one issue, I think we’d be okay. But, with all three of those issues, families are having to choose, do I pay rent, or do I feed my family?”
The Salvation Army of Southern Illinois food pantry feeds around 344 families a month. Those families total out to around 750 people with 250 of those people being children. With empty shelves and a growing need the Salvation Army of Southern Illinois has launched the Adopt-A- Bag Campaign.
For $35 a month, you can adopt a bag of groceries that will be given out to families in need.
Harms share’s for 35$ they can give a family a bag of food that lasts a family of four an entire week.
Partnering with local farmers and organizations to provide good sustainable food options that go beyond a generic boxed food item. Harms says the goal is to feed families and they aim to provide foods high in nutrition that will help children grow and stay full.
Depending on the power of community,
“We need to start moving beyond government assistance and start taking care of ourselves, because I saw firsthand with the tornado that came through in May, that people are very generous and kind and will participate when they know the need” says Harms. “So, here’s the need and I know Southern Illinois can help with this. We can take care of our people here.”
The Salvation Army of Southern Illinois does take food drop off donations and cash donations, but they aim to have a reliable monthly source of contributions.
For additional details and donations: Midland Division
