The need is great and the prognosis, right now, looking somewhat grim for the busy holiday season at the food bank. The Interfaith Food Bank expects to serve about 300 for the Thanksgiving holiday. That represents about 800 to 900 local families and individuals that do not have enough food to eat on a regular basis. That is especially true on Holidays when families with children that generally eat one or two meals at school on state and federal programs need to provide more food at home.

Also, the rainy weather has lead to an earlier lay off for seasonal workers that generally utilize the food bank for services in their down months. And it’s still before Thanksgiving- with Christmas and the winter to make it through; and even that is just the tip of the iceberg. Hunger here in Amador County is a rising year round problem. Currently, on a yearly average, 800-900 families use the services of the food bank on a monthly basis to supplement their household food needs. Harmon states that the changing demographics, as well as the large number of retirees on limited fix incomes contribute to the rising needs of the food Bank.

Demographics that may be surprising- of the food bank clients 68 percent are employed fulltime at minimum wage or near minimum wage jobs. The community supported Food Bank solicits and collects more than 500,000 pounds of food annually to be distributed to more nearly 1000 families each month. The food bank provided 376,000 meals last year. Over 5,000 people and in Amador County risk going to bed hungry each month, over 16 percent of the population. The People in need include children, seniors, the disables, veterans, homeless, working poor, and those experiencing temporary medical emergencies or recent job layoffs.

Recipients are eligible to come in for emergency food assistance every 14 days. The local food bank needs the community’s support this holiday season, as they do year round. Harmon says that needs at the food bank this week include your on going financial support. Raley’s food for families program is also an excellent program because one hundred percent of your donated dollars go to the Interfaith food. Harmon states that Raley’s collects the money in their Jackson store and then in turn sells the Food bank food products at an extremely discounted rate. The Interfaith Food Bank is located at 12181 Airport Road on Sutter Hill. For more information call 267-9006.