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Feeding the hungry
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| H&N photo by Todd E. Swenson Niki Sampson, executive director for the Klamath and Lake counties Food Bank, sorts through donations from Oregon Institute of Technology on Monday. The food bank is always in need of food and cash donations, especially with the holiday season approaching. |
Local organizations need donations
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
Hunger takes many forms in the Klamath Basin.
For some clients at Klamath Hospice, food boxes and paper products from Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank make all the difference to budgets strained by medical expenses.
“We get authorization from the family to contact the food bank,” said hospice social worker Robyn Cooper. “We act as a liaison. We let them know what’s needed, and they set up a box. It’s a great service that is provided here in the community.”
In Klamath and Lake counties, 2,275 households, or 9,800 people ate from a food box between June 2006 and last July. More than one-third of those were seniors over the age of 55. One-quarter of the recipients were disabled. There were one or more children in half the households.
Food bank executive director Niki Sampson said the number of those seeking assistance increased 45 percent from 1997 to today. That’s why food bank personnel have to work extra hard to keep the shelves stocked.
The next two months are a critical time for the bank and its recipients.
“Once January rolls around, donations take a drastic drop,” Sampson said.
On top of that, the food bank lost 28 percent of its U.S. Department of Agriculture commodity foods during the last fiscal year. That represents almost 180,000 pounds of food, Sampson said.
The reason for the decline, she said, is that farmers are getting their market price. It means less food left over for programs for those living at or below the poverty line.
The most wanted food items are tuna, peanut butter, canned chili and stew, canned fruit and vegetables and pasta.
There is some good news. During the past 18 months, some people who used to receive food boxes have reciprocated by giving food or money to the bank. They’ve gotten on better financial footing and want to give back.
Still, Sampson said the food bank’s shelves aren’t as full as usual for this time of year.
“Compared to this year, we had a lot of food last year,” she said. “But we’ll make it up somewhere. I have faith in this community.”
How to help
There are several ways to help the Klamath/Lake Counties Food Bank. Director Niki Sampson suggests these methods:
• Ask friends and family to bring a non-perishable food donation to your birthday party, anniversary party, reunion or Christmas party and donate it to the food bank.
• Hold a food drive in your work place, no matter how big or small. Have everyone bring one •on-perishable food item each Friday through the end of the year.
• Kids can collect food items during Halloween night.
• Businesses can challenge other businesses to a food drive.
Community involvement
Safeway Supermarket Saturday will be this Saturday, to take collections of non-perishable food items and financial contributions for the Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank.
Collections will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the downtown Safeway store and the Safeway on South Sixth Street. A barbecue is planned at both locations.
Participants can even have a chance to win prizes. A child’s battery-operated chopper will be raffled off at the Sixth Street store, and a $50 Safeway gift certificate will be given away at the downtown store.
For some clients at Klamath Hospice, food boxes and paper products from Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank make all the difference to budgets strained by medical expenses.
“We get authorization from the family to contact the food bank,” said hospice social worker Robyn Cooper. “We act as a liaison. We let them know what’s needed, and they set up a box. It’s a great service that is provided here in the community.”
In Klamath and Lake counties, 2,275 households, or 9,800 people ate from a food box between June 2006 and last July. More than one-third of those were seniors over the age of 55. One-quarter of the recipients were disabled. There were one or more children in half the households.
Food bank executive director Niki Sampson said the number of those seeking assistance increased 45 percent from 1997 to today. That’s why food bank personnel have to work extra hard to keep the shelves stocked.
The next two months are a critical time for the bank and its recipients.
“Once January rolls around, donations take a drastic drop,” Sampson said.
On top of that, the food bank lost 28 percent of its U.S. Department of Agriculture commodity foods during the last fiscal year. That represents almost 180,000 pounds of food, Sampson said.
The reason for the decline, she said, is that farmers are getting their market price. It means less food left over for programs for those living at or below the poverty line.
The most wanted food items are tuna, peanut butter, canned chili and stew, canned fruit and vegetables and pasta.
There is some good news. During the past 18 months, some people who used to receive food boxes have reciprocated by giving food or money to the bank. They’ve gotten on better financial footing and want to give back.
Still, Sampson said the food bank’s shelves aren’t as full as usual for this time of year.
“Compared to this year, we had a lot of food last year,” she said. “But we’ll make it up somewhere. I have faith in this community.”
How to help
There are several ways to help the Klamath/Lake Counties Food Bank. Director Niki Sampson suggests these methods:
• Ask friends and family to bring a non-perishable food donation to your birthday party, anniversary party, reunion or Christmas party and donate it to the food bank.
• Hold a food drive in your work place, no matter how big or small. Have everyone bring one •on-perishable food item each Friday through the end of the year.
• Kids can collect food items during Halloween night.
• Businesses can challenge other businesses to a food drive.
Community involvement
Safeway Supermarket Saturday will be this Saturday, to take collections of non-perishable food items and financial contributions for the Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank.
Collections will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the downtown Safeway store and the Safeway on South Sixth Street. A barbecue is planned at both locations.
Participants can even have a chance to win prizes. A child’s battery-operated chopper will be raffled off at the Sixth Street store, and a $50 Safeway gift certificate will be given away at the downtown store.
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| Farmers Market finds |
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