Spring Break
Rockbridge food pantry strives to feed hungry locals
Robert Armstrong
Issue date: 1/26/05 Section: News
Business is booming at the last major food pantry in Rockbridge County - and that's not a good sign.
In 2004, Rockbridge Area Relief Association's (RARA) food pantry was one of four emergency food sources available to the poor. But within the last 30 days, two of the county's larger pantries have either closed or reduced their services.
In addition to the increased demand, the Lexington-based RARA food pantry is also faced with funding difficulties. In the mid-nineties, the RARA non-profit organization was receiving over $15,000 in federal dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In 2004, RARA received $0 from FEMA and doesn't expect any changes in 2005.
But organizers of the food pantry, a branch of RARA's emergency services to the impoverished, won't back down and are determined to meet the area's needs.
"We've already seen an increase in demand over the past year, even when the other pantries were open," said Steve Shultis, Co-Supervisor of the RARA food pantry on N. Main Street in Lexington.
In fact, RARA's pantry served almost 50 percent more food in 2004 than it did in 2003. And data from last month reveal dismaying numbers: more than 200 families and 500 people were served, an all-time high for RARA.
This month, volunteers at the RARA pantry expect an additional overflow of visitors after the closing of the Neriah Baptist food pantry. Neriah volunteers are burnt out, and their 300 monthly patrons will need to get emergency food elsewhere.
A third food pantry, located in Buena Vista, is struggling to remain open. Exorbitant rent is threatening the BV pantry, which serves food to an average of 100 persons per month.
The resulting overflow could push RARA's numbers of people served in the winter months past seven or eight hundred.
Shultis, a no-nonsense ex-Marine, has spent several months gearing up RARA's facilities for the onslaught. He plans to maximize efficiency.
In 2004, Rockbridge Area Relief Association's (RARA) food pantry was one of four emergency food sources available to the poor. But within the last 30 days, two of the county's larger pantries have either closed or reduced their services.
In addition to the increased demand, the Lexington-based RARA food pantry is also faced with funding difficulties. In the mid-nineties, the RARA non-profit organization was receiving over $15,000 in federal dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In 2004, RARA received $0 from FEMA and doesn't expect any changes in 2005.
But organizers of the food pantry, a branch of RARA's emergency services to the impoverished, won't back down and are determined to meet the area's needs.
"We've already seen an increase in demand over the past year, even when the other pantries were open," said Steve Shultis, Co-Supervisor of the RARA food pantry on N. Main Street in Lexington.
In fact, RARA's pantry served almost 50 percent more food in 2004 than it did in 2003. And data from last month reveal dismaying numbers: more than 200 families and 500 people were served, an all-time high for RARA.
This month, volunteers at the RARA pantry expect an additional overflow of visitors after the closing of the Neriah Baptist food pantry. Neriah volunteers are burnt out, and their 300 monthly patrons will need to get emergency food elsewhere.
A third food pantry, located in Buena Vista, is struggling to remain open. Exorbitant rent is threatening the BV pantry, which serves food to an average of 100 persons per month.
The resulting overflow could push RARA's numbers of people served in the winter months past seven or eight hundred.
Shultis, a no-nonsense ex-Marine, has spent several months gearing up RARA's facilities for the onslaught. He plans to maximize efficiency.