Food Banks Need Everything

Georgia Jones is afraid to ask for what the food bank really needs: fresh and frozen foods. She and her assistant are both going away for Christmas, and they don't want frozen turkeys thawing on the doorstep of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's food bank.

But, she says, "We can always use food. Not just for Christmas. There are 364 more days in the year."

This year, there have been more clients.

"People are going without work," Jones said.

"We've gotten a lot more inquires, asking for food and financial assistance. That probably started since summertime," said Major Mary Holmes of the Salvation Army in Sebring.

"We get so many phone calls, we can't see them all," said Holmes, who is in her sixth year at the top position. Lately, they've been averaging 20 calls a day, and finally had to begin scheduling appointments with people who said they're unemployed, laid off or their hours have been cut.

"We're not turning anyone away for food. Food we've been able to cover, but for financial assistance, we can't do the case work on all of that. We're trying to budget so that our money lasts all year. We could spend a year's funds in 30 days," she said.

"Meat is the hardest thing to get right now," said Florence Mathis, at Community Bible Church in Avon Park.

"Spaghetti with meat sauce, even just with sauce," said Holmes. "And peanut butter. We don't get much peanut butter. That's a good protein."

The Salvation Army always needs help sorting and bagging donated food, she said, and volunteers to answer the phone so the case worker can concentrate on the clients.

Highlands County citizens have been helpful. After a story in Monday's Highlands Today, William Stephenson at Church Service Center in Avon Park got about $3,000 worth of checks in the mail. The Sebring Lions Breakfast Club responded with a $1,000 check from Hugo Pereira, the largest of their annual Christmas presents to the local community.

"It was felt by all the members of the club that the need for basic food in the Sebring area could not be ignored at this holiday time of year," said Pereira.

"We have a lot of Mexicans especially," Jones said, "because they know Highlands County tries to provide for the people who are less fortunate. And now we're getting the blue collars that we've never seen before."

Parkway Free Will Baptist Church has 1,500 people enrolled in its food ministries program, said Jane Klingensmith.

"We serve 300 to 350 people a week," Klingensmith said. The biggest contributors are Publix and Sweetbay, and money comes in from a once-a-month gospel singing.

Food Pantries

Salvation Army

3135 Kenilworth, Sebring

Maj. Mary Holmes 385-7548

Seventh-day Adventist Church

2345 Lake Lillian Drive, Avon Park

Georgia Jones or Bob Catron 453-0177

Community Bible Church

1400 County Road 17A, Avon Park

Florence Mathis 452-1093

Parkway Free Will Baptist Church & Food Ministries

3413 Sebring Parkway