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Pocono News Section
Budget Battle Could Force Food Pantries into Crisis
Budget Battle Could Force Food Pantries into Crisis - Monday, August 31, 2009 at 3:37PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Monday, Aug 31, 2009 @ 03:37pm EST
CHESTNUTHILL TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY - The state budget battle could force some families to go hungry. The budget is about two months past due. That means many programs won't get the money they need. Those include food pantries.
Eloise Laubach of the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network said, "Because there is no budget, we have no money to buy food and the longer it goes the bigger the crisis is going to be."
Lauback manages the Ecumenical Network food pantry in Chestnuthill Township. The group helps about 300 families a month. Laubach said, "We've seen a drastic increase in the number of people coming to us for assistance."
Volunteers tell Eyewitness News people who never thought they'd need help now visit the pantry. Volunteer Dottie Snarky said, "I talk to these clients. They eat pork and beans, they eat spaghetti, that's it."
They blame the rough economy and layoffs. Snarky said, "These are not people here looking for a handout. These are just people that hit a bad road."
The state usually helps pantries buy food. Last year it gave the Ecumenical Network about $27,000. But so far this year, there has been no help at all. Laubach said, "It's going to have a big impact on families - not just of our pantry - but throughout the state."
If the state money doesn't come through the pantry will have to count on government surplus food but there are just two racks of that.
Laubach hopes the community will help pick up the Commonwealth's slack. She said, "I think it's a shame that politics has to affect families like this." | | |
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