Local News
‘At the desperation point’ - Cullman Caring For Kids food bank running on empty
By Trent MooreBy Trent Moore
trentm@cullmantimes.com
The Cullman Caring For Kids food bank is low — very low.
“We’re at a point where we need help,” Director Javon Daniel said. “We’re at the desperation point.”
The agency ideally tries to operate with a surplus — but Daniel said they are currently on the verge of running completely out of food.
“We try to keep enough to last two to three weeks, so if everything just shut down we could stay open,” he said. “But now, it seems everyday it just gets a little more desperate.”
Daniel attributed various factors to the shortage of incoming donations, namely the economy.
“The economy is a lot worse,” he said. “Fuel prices, gas prices, grocery prices and everything else is going up.”
In addition to economic issues, Daniel said the summer months are normally a slower period as far as donations and food drives are concerned.
“You’ve got people on vacation that normally donate monetarily or host food drives, but they aren’t here,” he said. “Schools also do food drives, but they’re not is session in the summer.”
A rise in senior citizens using the food bank has also started taking a toll on supply.
“We have a lot of seniors coming in now, because that few dollars they get per month stopped going as far as it did,” Daniel said. “Some of them are having to pick and choose — do I buy my medicine or buy food to survive?”
With more people than ever streaming through the doors at Cullman Caring For Kids seeking help, Daniel said with donations taking a dive it is becoming harder and harder to help everyone.
“We have more going out, but don’t have the donations coming in,” he said. “We’ve had seventeen new families in less than a week and we’re probably up to 500 families a month now. We help as many people as we can help. ”
Daniel said even the influx of donations from the recent postal carrier food drive in May has long since been depleted.
“What we received from the postal workers was great,” he said. “That was a pretty fair amount, but it’s long gone.”
Even with the situation looking dire, Daniel said his faith in the people of Cullman never wavers when it comes to giving support.
“Cullman folks have the most powerful sense of giving,” he said. “They always come through to meet the needs for those who are struggling.”
Anyone interested in donating can drop food off at the agency’s office on Arnold Street NE, or call 739-1111 for more information.
“If it’s just a can or two or a truckload, we take whatever we can get,” Daniel said.
The Cullman Caring For Kids food bank is a United Way agency, which distributes approximately 4-6 tons of food to local families per month. Food is distributed based on financial need.
- Local News
-
-
Cleaning up
Nearly half a dozen workers have spent time at Cullman Memory Gardens this week, mowing and trimming a cemetery that has largely been neglected the past year.
-
Baileyton receives grant for electrical problems at park
The town of Baileyton has received the Land and Water Conservation Grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).
-
Smith Lake residents split on water plans
Residents on Smith Lake seem to be spilt which secondary water source would be best for Cullman County.
-
Signing on
Four local water authority representatives signed contracts Tuesday to join with the city of Cullman’s Duck River dam reservoir project.
-
Couple arrested for chemical endangerment of children
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two Berlin residents Saturday for allegedly keeping meth and syringes near two children.
-
Accreditation answer coming by early 2010
The Cullman County Board of Education took a step closer to district accreditation this week, though it will be next year until they know if their request is approved.
-
Robots fight to win
Holly Pond High School freshman Jordan Dover was excited when she had the opportunity to get involved with the Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) robotics competition.
-
ServSafe Program becomes mandatory Jan. 1, 2010
The Cullman County Health Department is sponsoring a ServSafe food safety class Nov. 17-20 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Grumpy’s Pizza.
-
Holly Pond trying to save students from addiction
If Karen Rowell can reach just one student, she will be satisfied.
-
Water on the brain
The City of Cullman and the Cullman County Commission have their own proposals for a second water source for the area, and neither group has shown signs of relenting to the other’s plan.
But after Monday, that could change. - More Local News Headlines
-
