Food shortages hit Lawrence hard

The soup kitchen at Lazarus House and St. Martin food pantry have both seen significant increases in demand in recent months as the effects of the economy has hit hard locally. Many people living close to the edge financially quickly find that they are unable to pay rent and provide food for their families.

There was no food in her house so in desperation Marie*, along with her two children age seven and ten, came to the food pantry for an emergency food order. She was given enough groceries to last until the next weekly food distribution and was also told about the soup kitchen. The following Thursday she came to thank a staff worker for helping. Holding back tears she explained, "I just recently lost my job and moved to Lawrence to decrease my rent. Yesterday was the first time I had ever gone to a soup kitchen. Even though the people were welcoming and kind I never thought the day would come that I would have to bring my children to a soup kitchen to put food on their plate." When asked if she would be returning Marie emphatically and sadly replied, "not only do I plan to go back, I have to go back!"

All of the centers that distribute food in Lawrence have seen a dramatic increase in the past month. The Lazarus House food pantry is providing food to more than 900 families a week and serving an additional 250 people breakfast and lunch in the soup kitchen. 'There is a lot of concern among our colleagues," commented Ken Campbell, Food Coordinator, "many food pantries are seeing food donations grinding down and are not able to stay open to distribute food; this is bringing panic to the people who depend on it to live on. I do not expect to see any change in a positive direction in 2012. I worry about after the holidays when the food drives typically decline and we hit a drought in donations."

Another couple, John* and Sylvia* live in Bradford and are struggling to survive. With her husband, unemployed and dying of cancer, Sylvia left her job to care for him during his last few months. John has a small pension but it is not enough to cover the rent. To pay for his medication they have sold their car, and no longer have a telephone. In that small apartment with so little else you can feel the incredible love they share and how happy they are to have this time together. The two of them depend on our weekly food distribution to eat. One week they went without food for two days until the next delivery because they didn't want to take more than their share. As with many people, this weekly food allotment, which is meant to be a supplement, is sometimes their only food source. Although initially reluctant to even receive any help John once commented, "you have no idea not only how much we appreciate the food you bring to us, but also how very much we need it!" Sylvia earnestly added, "Some day when things are better I want to volunteer at Lazarus House to give back to everyone who helped us during this difficult time."

*Names changed to protect their anonymity.

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