By Michelle Bliss
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/whqr/local-whqr-989173.mp3
Wilmington, NC – Summer months are tough on soup kitchens, with more children out of school to feed, along with fewer donations trickling in.
WHQR's Michelle Bliss reports that one Wilmington facility, the Good Shepherd Center, isn't bouncing back like it has in years past...even now that vacation season is over and school's back in session.
At the end of the summer, when operations were already stretched thin, the center had an unexpected spike in visitors. Staff members served 1,000 more meals in August than in July.
Executive Director Katrina Knight says the increase is one of several reasons why their pantry is bare.
"Unfortunately, this year, things really haven't picked up from those summer months, in part I think because our grocery store and other commercial partners haven't had as much to offer us in terms of fresh produce. So, that's placed quite a bit more pressure on the canned vegetables."
As a result of that marked decline in produce donations, staff members are pulling more canned goods from pantry shelves to compensate.
"Those who come to us, especially for the lunchtime meal, you know, they're elderly folks on a fixed income, they're low wage workers, they're parents who are skipping meals at home so that their kids have enough to eat. We know that they come to us, not only in need of food, but something that's well-balanced and healthy."
Knight says she's starting to hear from local students brainstorming projects like canned food drives. The center will also see more donations with the upcoming holiday season.
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