Business RSS Feed
Print Story
E-mail StoryForeclosure worries affect local food banks differently
| Monday, Mar 24 2008 6:12 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Mar 25 2008 7:43 AM
Has Kern County’s surge of foreclosed homes created a run on Bakersfield food banks?
Our readers recommend:
Loading Stories
Salvation Army
You can bring non-perishable food donations or send a check to the Salvation Army at 4417 Wilson Road, Bakersfield, CA 93309. “Sometimes I can get it cheaper than you can buy it,” said Major David Ebel. For more information call 836-8487.
Hope Center
The Hope Center in Oildale trains volunteers every Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. at the center, 3311 Manor St., said Dennis Mitchell. Mitchell, founder and director, is a volunteer like everyone else at the center. For more information call 399-2119.
Golden Empire Gleaners
The Gleaners, located at1326 30th St., provide food for about 31,000 people a month using donated surplus from the local agriculture industry. For more information call 324-2767.
Probably not, at least so far.
Three agencies that provide food and services to the needy — the Golden Empire Gleaners, the Salvation Army and the Hope Center Inc. — reported different conditions on the front lines.
“I wouldn’t say our volume is larger than normal,” said Pam Fiorini, executive director of the Golden Empire Gleaners, about whether the nonprofit has noticed an increase in help requests.
But Major David Ebel, Kern County coordinator for the Salvation Army, said he’s seen “exponential” growth in early 2008 compared to a year ago.
“There’s not only an increase in demand for food,” Ebel said. “We seem to be getting more need for rental assistance and utility assistance” as well.
Pastor Dennis “Papa Dennis” Mitchell, meanwhile, founder and director of the faith-based nonprofit Hope Center in Oildale, said a recent increase in traffic has come primarily from migrant farmworkers and former welfare recipients.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported a national run on food banks stemming in part from the mortgage crisis and a decrease of surplus government food.
Part of the Hope Center’s role as “disaster outlet” for the 93308 ZIP code includes distribution of government-provided food at the 3311 Manor St. site.
Mitchell said he hasn’t yet seen a significant decrease in the monthly shipment of about 21⁄22 pallets of food. The food bank side of the program feeds about 400 to 500 people a month, he said.
The center also runs a separate “pantry” for clients referred to the program. Food and clothing for the referral program comes mostly from nongovernment donors.
The Gleaners’ Fiorini said the program’s food is supplied entirely by private sources, mostly local agricultural operations. There has been a decrease in donations, she said, but that’s likely due to greater efficiency of commercial farming operations.
The Salvation Army also does not receive government-supplied food, Ebel said.
Ebel said the recent increase in service requests has come primarily from the working poor.
He noticed more traffic in October and November, something that generally falls off after the Christmas season.
But since January, Ebel said, the local Salvation Army saw demand rise back to high levels he’d noticed in November.
Mitchell said the Hope Center, a ministry of Olive Knolls Church, hasn’t had any clients he’s aware of seeking help after a foreclosure.