Have you or has someone you know ever gone hungry? While your answer may be no, food insecurity is closer than you think.
Records from Feeding Across America show 13 percent of people around Illinois are food insecure. To meet those needs, the state would need to spend $771,485,000 more on the issue. Alexander County has the highest rate of food insecurity in the state at 24 percent. In Saline County, 15 percent of its population is listed food insecure.
More families are turning to food pantries to put food on the table and one popular pantry is now struggling to keep up with an increase in demand.
The volunteers at Harvest Deliverance Center Church’s food pantry pack up and send out food for at least 100 families each week. Patricia Edwards says she’s been coming here once a month for years now.
"Well, when you have children, you do have to have a little extra help. You know, sometimes your pride has to go out the door," Edwards said.
Along with a cart full of bread and meat items, people coming in to the pantry also get milk and eggs making sure all the food groups are hit. But food pantry supervisor Stan Willis says lately it’s been hard to find enough food to go around with dozens of new people coming in and signing up for help every week.
"Oh, I don't know... at least 100 more if not more than that," Edwards said, estimating the increase in people coming in to the pantry over the past few months.
"We've run out of food a few times. We've even had to close completely one day," Willis said. He says there’s not much funding available for programs like this right now and their food vendors, while generous, can’t always match the ever increasing demand. But with trouble at coal mines and jobs or hours cut during the budget impasse, more and more people are coming in hungry and hurting.
"It's very, very difficult because so many people depend on the pantry. And they're allowed to come once a month and just that once a month really makes a difference in their families," Willis said.
"It's nice to know it's going to be here if I need it," Edwards said.
Families like hers depend on the pantry here. And it’s why Willis says they’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they can keep going and the community fed.
Harvest Deliverance Center Church says they’re in desperate need of food donations, cereal and meat in particular. They’re also accepting donations of toys or winter clothes for kids 0 to 12-years-old at the food pantry or the church to give to kids as Christmas gifts.
The food pantry is open on the 1,2,4 and 5 Wednesdays of the month from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and is open to anyone in need. They’re located at 38 S. Vine St. in Harrisburg, Illinois. For questions about food assistance or to drop off donations, call 618-252-0009.
