Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

GRACE, Others Seek Donations to Feed Needy

By Barbara Gelinas

Contributing Writer

As Thanksgiving approaches, local food pantries and food banks need donations to help a growing number of hungry families. Tarrant Area Food bank supplies about 300 local food pantries and food programs for the disadvantaged, said Andrea Helms, the food bank’s public relations director. She said the number of people who need assistance is increasing.

Grapevine Relief And Community Exchange is one of Tarrant Area Food Bank’s partner pantries. GRACE prepares Thanksgiving baskets each year for families in need, said Volunteer Coordinator Anna Shore. In 2007, GRACE distributed about 400 Thanksgiving meals, Shore said. This year, they expect to distribute about 600 baskets.

Shore said each basket will include a turkey, stuffing and other canned and boxed items for a Thanksgiving meal. The baskets will also include extra bread, sweets and everyday basics like butter, milk and eggs. .GRACE announced this week that they would be lifting the income limits for their food distribution programs. This means that a family of four, making up to $42,000 a year would be eligible to receive help from the GRACE program. In the past the threshold has been 150 percent of the federal poverty level. This year the limit has been raised to 200 percent.

The GRACE food program also includes a similar-scale food distribution for the Christmas holiday. Compass Church in Grapevine recently provided the agency 700 complete food baskets, said GRACE Communications Manager Keith Miller..

He said that even with that donation, the agency needs more help with holiday baskets.

"The need has increased with the economy down," Shore agreed.

GRACE has said in the past that they can only reach a portion of the needy population locally with food distribution. They are hoping this year that increased generosity will enable them to help a much larger number of families, noting that not only are more people in need, but that needs are more intense. The increase in needy families in Tarrant County is an indicator of the depth of the problem locally.

"The number of families being helped by Tarrant Food Bank partner pantries is up 49 percent from last year," Helms noted.

She said the food bank receives most of its donations from the food industry, but that non-perishable donations have slowly declined. She said they increasingly rely on community donations from individuals for canned and boxed goods.

Currently, the food bank and Tarrant area fire stations are conducting a food drive called "Extinguish Hunger" to collect non-perishable items, Helms said. She said people could drop their donations off at local fire stations and Wachovia Bank financial centers.

She said canned meats, soups, vegetables and boxed juices are among the items most needed. Cereal and powdered milk are always welcome, she said.

"Cereal can be expensive, so it’s a real treat for some kids to get it," Helms said.

Metroport Meals-on-Wheels will have their Thanksgiving luncheons as part of their regular senior lunch program, said Darlene Terpening, MMOW home delivery program director. The regular luncheons take place at local senior centers and convention halls throughout the area. The Southlake Thanksgiving lunch will be at the Southlake Senior Center at noon on Nov. 18, Terpening said. The Colleyville Thanksgiving lunch will be at the Colleyville Senior Center on Nov. 21 at noon.

Although MMOW does not serve the Grapevine Senior Center, they will be making home meal deliveries to seniors in Grapevine, as usual.

Terpening said Metroport is still accepting donations for the winter, particularly for their homebound clients. She said they need canned foods, individual servings of cereal and personal hygiene items including shampoo and shaving cream. Metroport has also collaborated with Banfield Animal Clinics at PetSmart to collect pet food donations, said Cassy Smith, Southlake Banfield Director of Pet Nursing. She said the Southlake clinic donated about two grocery carts of pet food to Metroport in 2007. Terpening said pet food donations are important for homebound people. She said they sometimes sacrifice their own food to feed their pets.

Smith said the program, called "A Season of Suppers," will continue until December 31. Donations can be dropped off at any Banfield Animal Clinic, she said.