Thursday, April 16th, 2020

Food bank friends

Pantries are stressed but still helpful

By Leslie Gartrell
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard

Christina Hall carries a box of groceries to a client on Wednesday afternoon at CALL Ministries in Celina.

Local food banks are responding to increased demand with limited resources as the coronavirus pandemic continues across the U.S.
CALL Ministries executive director Homer Burnett said the Celina nonprofit has had to drastically reduce its services. While CALL usually offers eight services such as a clothing pantry and weekly hot meal program, the ministry has had to shutter all but the food pantry, which has had its hours slashed.
While the pantry would usually be open seven hours a day for clients to come inside and select items, it is open for only two hours and clients pick up their food via a drive-thru process.
Burnett said he's seen a slight increase in the number of people using the food pantry. CALL usually serves about 500-600 families a month, who are all clients of the ministry. However, as many people throughout Mercer County have found themselves recently jobless or financially vulnerable, CALL is no longer requiring participants to be clients. Burnett said he estimates about 8% of people now using the food pantry are not clients.
While Burnett said the pantry has a decent reserve of food, officials have already had to dip into their reserve funds to buy items they get locally, such as bread and milk.
"We don't really lack for food, but we are experiencing a drain in our funding," Burnett said. "Now it seems we have an even greater need."
Patti Hamilton, executive director of Agape Ministries in St. Marys, said the nonprofit usually serves 20-25 clients a week at its food bank. That number has tripled over the past month to 60-65 clients weekly
The ministry has increased the frequency of its senior box program, which provides food boxes to homebound seniors, she said. The boxes, which are usually delivered monthly, are being delivered weekly. The thrift store closed in mid-March.
Agape, which serves residents of Minster, New Bremen, New Knoxville and St. Marys, has been able to meet demand by shortening payroll hours for some workers and receiving generous donations from the community.
Dannon Co. recently donated two palettes of yogurt, which Hamilton said is a luxury item that is hard to acquire in food pantries. Cargill Inc. donated $2,500, which will be matched, and always donated dog and cat food for families with pets. Local beef and pork producers have also donated meat, which the pantry stores in freezers.
"Our communities are extremely generous and have been helping us stay afloat through their donations," Hamilton said.
Like CALL, Agape has changed its criteria for accepting new clients. Income is not verified, but people who need assistance must bring a photo ID and proof of residency for everyone living in the same household 18 years old or older, dated within the last 30 days.
Clients can get items from the food bank every 30 days, and the amount of supplies depends upon family size, Hamilton said. Boxes of food, cleaning supplies and other items are taken to clients in the Agape Ministries parking lot.
Agape Ministries is one of the few pantries that has seen an increase in monetary and material donations as demand continues to increase.
In Celina, Our Home Family Resource Center's food pantry has seen a lot of new clients, according to Edna Backs, direct services program coordinator. Food pantry workers are doing their best to streamline donations, Backs said.
Our Home also supports people through utility shutoff assistance, rent eviction assistance and personal-care supplies.
CALL, Agape and Our Home officials all noted the need for monetary donations. Burnett said CALL has been leery of physical donations because they want to avoid contamination and limit the risk to volunteers.
Backs and Burnett noted monetary donations are preferred because they can purchase food at a discounted rate from suppliers such as the West Ohio Food Bank. Burnett said CALL can purchase $2.40 worth of goods for every $1 a person donates.
CALL food pantry is open for drive-thru pickup from noon-2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Agape Ministries food pantry is open noon-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and Our Home's food pantry hours are 9:30 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
People can contact CALL Ministries at 419-586-3574, Agape Ministries at 419-394-8700 and Our Home at 419-586-4663 to learn how to get assistance or donate.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard

Gary Dues helps fill boxes of groceries for clients on Wednesday afternoon at CALL Ministries.

Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard

A client's groceries awaits pickup on Wednesday afternoon at CALL Ministries.

Additional online story on this date
WAPAKONETA - The Auglaize County Health Department reported three new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday bringing the county's total to 18.
The three new cases involve women ages 87, 84 and 86, respectively. All are self isolating at home. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
CELINA - Two county officials are guiding efforts to develop a local plan to reopen the economy safely and reasonably when the time is right.
While
WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County Board of Elections employees have received more than 5,000 requests for absentee ballots for the primary election, which was extended until April 28 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
First virtual meeting held to ensure social distancing
NEW BREMEN - COVID-19 and its effects on the district dominated the conversation during school board members' first virtual meeting on Monday evening
CELINA - The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered Mercer County Prosecutor Matthew Fox to hand over certain documents along with a written explanation for why they had been withheld from the family of a former Fort Recovery teacher convicted of sexual battery involving a student.
Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered the waiving of utility reconnection fees and disconnects during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a United Way of Auglaize County news release.
Amazing Athletes
He played quarterback for Celina and then Holy Cross.
And holy cow, Jeff Wiley built quite the resume.
One panel member who witnessed the somew
Carey (Poor) Walley scored 17 points on her 17th birthday.
That performance gave her the best gift of all: a state championship.
On that day in