This time of year is typically when local food pantries see an even greater need and that couldn’t be more true than with the Greene County Action Resource Center.

ARC Manager Shirley Haupert tells Raccoon Valley Radio they continue to see a record number of households and families using the food pantry in Jefferson. She says this past summer they were averaging 125 households and are now up to 160 households, which translates to 35-40 families per week. She talks about one of their busiest weeks was on Wednesday, November 16th.

“We served 47 families. Our volunteers were just exhausted by the end of the day, they were dragging and our shelves were so empty. But nobody walked away without anything. We had enough for everybody.” 

Haupert points out the largest growth they’ve seen is the 19-59 year olds with that demographic having bigger families and needing the most help. 

“We’re there for these people. But they also have their food stamp program. So they’re not without ways and means to have food put on their table. But for a lot of them, especially the families it’s hard to make these dollars stretch to buy food and get enough to feed three kids (and) several of these do have two, and three, and four kids.”     

Haupert notes any food or monetary donation will be accepted at the ARC and she appreciates all donations that they’ve received, including a $5,000 donation from Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation for their recent Give Back Campaign. Contact Haupert at 515-386-8262 to learn more about making a donation.