The demand has one church placing limits on an annual food program.
By Melissa Smith
Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.
Read more: Local, Economy, Business, Community
TRAVERSE CITY -- Empty shelves at Trinity Lutheran Church in Traverse City tell the story....increasing demand and tough economic times are forcing the church to decrease its food pantry hours.
"We had to reduce it to two days a week because of the growing need and demand in the area. we're now giving away more food in two days than we did in five days," says Pastor Robert Zagore.
Pastor Zagore says a combination of the approaching holidays and job loss is causing more people to look for extra help from a church that is also feeling the downturn in the economy
"Our budget has decreased significantly from last year and this year our offerings are running behind even more than what we projected," says Pastor Zagore.
Meanwhile, the need is becoming so great for St. Francis in Traverse City that they're starting to place limits on an annual meal program.
"Last year we did 120 Thanksgiving baskets. This year we've got 150 plus....We are making lists to make sure that the families are getting just one thanksgiving basket for Thanksgiving and not signing up at other places, so we're sending lists out to the pantries so they can go through the names," says organizer of the St. Francis food pantry, Rosie Duell.
Duell says St. Francis like Trinity Lutheran won't turn anyone away from their pantries. They just ask that people be responsible when turning to them.
"There's a need out there definitely. We just hope everyone is honest and don't go to every pantry and load up because we're there to help," says Duell.
