Feeding the masses

CELINA - Area food pantries and larger organizations have experienced a meat shortage as the COVID-19 pandemic has continued and demand has increased.

The West Ohio Food Bank distributes food at The Galleria in Celina from 1-3 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Divers are supposed to start lining up at noon. However, they began to line up on Tuesday at 11 a.m., and the line grew so quickly that distribution started early at 12:30 p.m.

The agency served 331 families and gave out roughly 29,000 pounds of food during Tuesday's distribution, according to CEO Tommie Harner. Each family received about 88 pounds of food. Volunteers eventually ran out of food and were unable to serve every family in line.

"We have seen a tremendous growth in distribution, especially because of COVID-19," Harner said.

The food bank has seen an increase in need each time distribution comes to Mercer County, she noted. Last year the food bank may have served 150 or up to 200 families. That number has doubled this year.

"We're seeing about twice as many families," she said.

Lanna Samaniego, executive director of the North American Indian Cultural Center in Celina, said she's seen an increase in need this year as well.

"I haven't experienced anything like this before," said Samaniego, who has worked at the center since 1999.

Samaniego said the food pantry the organization uses has had trouble getting meat this year due to the pandemic.

Patti Hamilton, executive director of Agape Ministries, St. Marys, said the food pantry struggled to get turkey in November for Thanksgiving meals. The ministry also typically purchases whole cows or pigs and has them butchered locally to save money in the long run, but that approach has its own set of issues.

Hamilton said having an animal processed would usually take two or three months. Now, the same order may take eight or nine months to process.

Harner said the West Ohio Food Bank, which serves 11 counties, has run into the same problems. Not only is meat more difficult to find, but it's also more expensive.

The food bank gets most of its food from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and from the state, but even that's been a struggle this year.

"A lot of orders are being canceled or decreasing (in size) because the supply chain is low," she said.

If orders for meat aren't decreased, delayed or canceled altogether, they're usually substantially more expensive, she said.

Prices could get even higher at the end of December unless the USDA increases the amount of food sent to food banks and pantries throughout the country, Harner added. If something isn't done, the food bank could see a 50% decrease in food from USDA.

Harner had some ideas as to what could have helped lead to the meat shortage. The supply chain has been struggling, which could be due to a decrease in manpower, an increase in orders or backlogs if processing plants experienced outbreaks of COVID-19 or employees need to quarantine or isolate.

"It's crazy how (processors are) so backed up," she said.

Whatever the food bank can't get from the USDA it must purchase from outside vendors, which is even more costly. Harner said depending on the food they order, a truckload of food could cost between $30,000 and $40,000 to make up for the federal and state shortfall. The truckload lasts about a month.

Harner said if people are in need they can check the West Ohio Food Bank's Facebook page for more information or visit its website at westohiofoodbank.org. People can also text "foodbank" to 81257 for text alerts on upcoming food distributions.

Samaniego encouraged residents to consider anonymously "adopting" family through the NIACC's Christmas program. The organization has given out Christmas gifts, food and other essential items for 40 years.

People can call the NIACC at 419-586-6567 to adopt a family or multiple families anonymously. Families make a list of gifts their children would like for Christmas and also provide their clothing sizes. Samaniego encouraged people not to forget about teenagers with Christmas lists as well.

Last year the center served 300-400 children, and Samaniego anticipated the need would be greater this year.

People can drop off their donations at the NIACC, located at 304 E. Anthony St., Celina. The center is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Samaniego said the center could also schedule socially distanced pickups - whatever it takes to help area kids and families have a happy holiday.