More families turning to food pantries

There has been a marked rise in the number of people in need of help, said the organizers of several Highlands County food pantries, which have so far kept pace with the demand.

But they all agreed that more donations are always welcome.

Dennis Griffin, headmaster of Lake Placid Christian School, said its food pantry began about 25 years ago when members of its student council wanted to help some families they heard about who needed food.

"Every week it seems there are a few more," Griffin said.

For a long time it averaged about 65 to 80 people per week who needed food.

"This past year it's gone to about 250 a week," he said. "That's about 60 families. There are a lot of people hurting out there. I take it to most of them one time a week. We try to run it like the free meal at the school, based on income."

He knows these are people who really need it.

"When we go around and they're living in a shack, there's an old car or no car, the windows are busted out, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out they need help."

He said the pantry used to make a run to Lakeland to pick up food at the food bank there, which was somewhat cost prohibitive, but since the Heartland Food Reservoir opened in Sebring, they've been buying it there.

Anyone wishing to make a donation may call 863-465-5491 or write the school at P.O. Box 950, Lake Placid, Fla., 33852.

The Church of the Nazarene of Sebring

Members with The Church of the Nazarene of Sebring Inc. were at the Heartland Food Reservoir on Tuesday, picking up a couple of shopping carts of food.

Sheila Riley and her husband Pat said their food pantry, too, has been blessed since the Heartland Food Reservoir opened its doors.

"We had to go to Lakeland and Tampa to stock up," she said. "Now we come here. He keeps it stocked."

Two other couples at the church do the distribution.

She said the church's food pantry began several years ago, helping out AIDS patients. Then they opened it up to families in need.

"We started out with about 12 families, maybe 15 at the most," she said. "Now we're doing 50 or so a week. That's about 200 a month."

They help each family once a week.

Anyone wishing to help may do so by calling 863-385-0400 or write to P.O. Box 372, Sebring, Fla., 33871.

Avon Park Seventh-day Adventist

Georgia Jones said Tuesday she's been the director of the Avon Park Seventh-day Adventist food pantry for about 10 years. The panty has been active about 15 years, she said.

They, too, used to get their food in Tampa and now shop at the Heartland Food Reservoir.

"When I started 10 years ago we thought we were doing something if we helped five or 10 families a month," said Jones.

Then it increased over the years to 15 or 20, then to 40 families a week. They still consider their ministry a small one compared to others.

"In the last couple of years the numbers have more than doubled," she said.

"People are moving to our area thinking that they're getting jobs, but people already living here don't have jobs," she said.

They have people sign up by filling out an application, so they can confirm the need.

To help call (863) 368-0039, or write to 2345 W. Lake Lillian Drive, Avon Park, Fla., 33825.

Church Service Center

The Church Service Center, located at 198 Rowe St., Avon Park, Fla., 33825, is supported by the Avon Park Ministerial Association and does not rely on the Heartland Food Reservoir.

The center has had about 500 new families sign up in 2010, according to John Jeffo, executive director. It had about 1,000 new families sign up in 2009, he said.

"We average about 700 families per month, which represents about 1,800 people," he said. "We give out about 20,000 pounds of food each month."

Last year the center gave away 235,000 pounds of food.

In November it served 686 families with food, and helping with utility bills, some lodging, rent or mortgage, prescriptions, transportation, furniture, and clothing.

The center is doing well with its food supply, which comes from private and corporate donations as well as food shipments from the USDA.

All clothing donations are given out. Each person who needs clothes is allowed three outfits per month. There was considerably more women's clothing than men's.

"The men's things go very quickly here," said Joan Baronosky, who volunteers at the center with her husband and daughter. "Women get rid of things more quickly after they wear them a few times. Men tend to hang onto their things."

To contact the Church Service Center call 863-452-6464.