On a brisk, sunny Sunday afternoon a line of people bundled-up in jackets and bulky sweaters stretches down Fair Street in Uptown Kingston, spanning the sidewalk in front of the County Office Building. At first glance, the assembly of various ages, ethnicities and backgrounds could be easily mistaken for a line of Black Friday sale shoppers. But this is a line of residents waiting for their turn to get a few bags of food from St. James’ Methodist Church’s weekly food pantry.
As the economy recovers at a tortuously tortoise-like pace, with Ulster’s unemployment rate scraping a nauseating 9 percent, those who give out food to the needy report record demand. As well as, depressingly, a record low in supplies and donations.
For the sake of anonymity, the names of food pantry recipients interviewed herein have been changed. “Belinda,” a per diem medical technician, explained that she has been frequenting food pantries for the past year ever since a $100 monthly rent increase coincided with several steep dental bills. This is not the only food pantry she visits, she said, explaining that she also goes to another pantry in Kingston, depending on the hours and her family’s needs. Belinda said she helps support her 23-year-old daughter and two year old granddaughter who both live with her, as well as her 22 year-old son — neither of whom are currently working.
“I know I shouldn’t be supporting them like this, and they should have jobs to help me out,” she said. “But, it doesn’t seem to be happening, and meanwhile we gotta eat … right?”
Senior citizen “John” said his Social Security check leaves him high and dry by the end of the month and so he has to do without a lot of things, including cable. He does, however, return the help by volunteering at a local soup kitchen periodically, he explained.
According to Family of Woodstock Executive Director Michael Berg, the increase in demands on food pantries is a reflection of rising costs across the board for everyone, regardless of their ability to cope. Berg pointed out, for example, that Central Hudson recently increased its rates by 11 percent.
“The cost of everything has gone up a lot in the last few years,” Berg said, noting gasoline as another example of something people have to have that’s gotten more expensive. New York State reports on its website that the average cost for a gallon of regular gas in September 2010 for upstate was $2.74 per gallon. By September 2011, that rose to $3.78. By this past September, it clocked in at $4.02.
“It’s getting to be nearly impossible and people are making difficult decisions,” said Berg, often choosing to meet other obligations which leave them with not much when it comes to buying food. It’s not just the out-of-work — Berg said so many of the people currently using food pantries are working that he’s offering evening and weekend hours to accommodate them.
On a brisk, sunny Sunday afternoon a line of people bundled-up in jackets and bulky sweaters stretches downFair Streetin Uptown Kingston, spanning the sidewalk in front of theCountyOfficeBuilding. At first glance, the assembly of various ages, ethnicities and backgrounds could be easily mistaken for a line of Black Friday sale shoppers. But this is a line of residents waiting for their turn to get a few bags of food from St. James Methodist Church’s weekly food pantry.
As the economy recovers at a tortuously tortoise-like pace, with Ulster’s unemployment rate scraping a nauseating 9 percent, those who give out food to the needy report record demand. As well as, depressingly, a record low in supplies and donations.
For the sake of anonymity, the names of food pantry recipients interviewed herein have been changed. “Belinda,” a per diem medical technician, explained that she has been frequenting food pantries for the past year ever since a $100 monthly rent increase coincided with several steep dental bills. This is not the only food pantry she visits, she said, explaining that she also goes to another pantry in Kingston, depending on the hours and her family’s needs. Belinda said she helps support her 23-year-old daughter and two year old granddaughter who both live with her, as well as her 22 year-old son — neither of whom are currently working.
“I know I shouldn’t be supporting them like this, and they should have jobs to help me out,” she said. “But, it doesn’t seem to be happening, and meanwhile we gotta eat … right?”
Senior citizen “John” said his Social Security check leaves him high and dry by the end of the month and so he has to do without a lot of things, including cable. He does, however, return the help by volunteering at a local soup kitchen periodically, he explained.
According to Family of Woodstock Executive Director Michael Berg, the increase in demands on food pantries is a reflection of rising costs across the board for everyone, regardless of their ability to cope. Berg pointed out, for example, thatCentral Hudsonrecently increased its rates by 11 percent.
“The cost of everything has gone up a lot in the last few years,” Berg said, noting gasoline as another example of something people have to have that’s gotten more expensive.New YorkStatereports on its website that the average cost for a gallon of regular gas in September 2010 for upstate was $2.74 per gallon. By September 2011, that rose to $3.78. By this past September, it clocked in at $4.02.
“It’s getting to be nearly impossible and people are making difficult decisions,” said Berg, often choosing to meet other obligations which leave them with not much when it comes to buying food. It’s not just the out-of-work — Berg said so many of the people currently using food pantries are working that he’s offering evening and weekend hours to accommodate them.
Flow of giving diminished
In addition to record-high demands local food pantries are reporting, the Saugerties Area Council of Churches and five other food pantries all equally reported a significant, record-low in donations — a set of unsavory conditions forming the perfect storm for regional hunger.
Slideshow image: People wait in line on a recent Sunday morning for food from St. James Methodist’s pantry. (Photo by Phyllis McCabe)
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