Food pantries in Columbia County try to meet increased needs

Local food banks report 20 percent increase in need for emergency food over past three months

By Cecelia Haack

The South County Spotlight, Dec 3, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Cecelia Haack / The South County Spotlight

Volunteers sort donated food at the Columbia Pacific Food Bank. From left to right is Judy Haugen, Shirley Walker, Jon Dickinson and Joan Cisneros. All food that comes into the food bank has to be sorted and stored for future use.

The need for emergency food has risen 90 percent in Vernonia since the floods last year.

A year ago today the emergency food pantry there, Vernonia Cares, was destroyed by high water that inundated much of the town. Residents and business in the county rallied to the losses at the food pantry. A new freezer, refrigerator and tons of food were donated. Vernonia Cares’ office and pantry spaces were cleaned, painted and made ready for families in need.

Throughout Columbia County, emergency food pantries have seen a 20 percent increase in the last three months for emergency food. In St. Helens the H.E.L.P emergency food pantry saw nine new families in one day last week.

“We’re seeing a steady increase in new families needing food,” said Tracie Smith, executive director of Columbia Pacific Food Bank.

The economic downturn is a big factor in the increased need for emergency food.

“We haven’t begun to see the impact of Boise shutting down two paper machines yet,” Smith said.

The impact from that shutdown will be threefold for the food bank. Boise employees have always been generous to United Way, which provides a significant amount of funding for the food bank. There will be fewer dollars to divide among service organizations next year.

Boise employees have a long history of successful food drives. Over the years they have gathered tons of food for the food bank. Smith expects to see fewer food drives and less food from these activities.

The third part of the Boise equation will happen when employee severance packages and unemployment benefits run out.

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