More locals facing hunger for the holidays

Food banks stretched in holiday season

More than one of every ten children, and 4 percent of the overall population in Gunnison County, are fed with food partially paid for by food stamps. That’s an 87 percent increase since 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Census Bureau.

So to give a little cushion to county residents who are struggling to put food on the table this year, area food banks, restaurants and individuals with some spare time or cash are putting their resources together to fill everyone’s cup this holiday season.
Throughout the nation, trends show a rising number of people falling below the federal poverty line and qualifying for federal food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women Infants and Children (WIC), or the state Food Assistance Program. The number of Americans participating in SNAP has risen by more than 10 million in the last two years.
And the problem of underfed families this holiday season isn’t isolated to urban centers or destitute farming communities far removed from the Gunnison Valley.
States like Colorado, Texas and Oregon—some of the wealthiest in the nation—are also topping the list of states with families in need of food assistance.
SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, helped feed more than 360,000 Coloradoans—or about 7 percent of the population—this year, a 37 percent increase over 2008. In the rest of the country, the increase was less than 18 percent.
Holly Yeager, reporting for thedailybeast.com, points out that while none of the 15 counties with the highest rates of food stamp use are in Colorado, the state has its share of hunger problems.
Colorado ranked first on the list of wealthy states with high proportions of hungry people, and the overall percent of households facing hunger increased to 5 percent, she reported.
She also points out that Colorado’s application for receiving SNAP benefits is lengthy—26 pages—and the state requirements are more stringent than the federal requirements. But the hefty application doesn’t stop the people who really need to put food on the table.
Gunnison County WIC Coordinator Kim Bemis said she saw 50 new local residents get vouchers for milk, eggs, bread and cheese through her office this year, bringing the total number of county participants to 268.
“We’ve definitely got a higher case load than last year,” Bemis said. “We try to create a supply of high quality food for pregnant or nursing mothers and children up to five years old, and food security is certainly a concern for more young families this year.”
For the most part, WIC voucher holders redeem them at the grocery store, but Bemis said over the summer the Crested Butte Farmers’ Markets gave away fresh fruits and vegetable to those in need. “They were awesome,” she said.
But as the season wears on and fresh fruits and vegetables are harder to come by, needy people in the Gunnison Valley turn to the local food banks for support. Whether it’s in Gunnison or at the north end of the Valley, traffic to the food pantries is picking up.
Heidi Duryea, who runs the Care and Share Food Bank at Oh-Be-Joyful Baptist Church in Crested Butte with the help of her family, said when she took over the job at the beginning of the year there were about eight families who would come in regularly for supplies. Now there are more than 75 people who pass through the pantry every week.
And the faces at the Care and Share Food Bank aren’t always the same. Duryea said she is always seeing new people come in, from what many people had considered a stable and self-sufficient segment of the population.
“I’m surprised by the groups we see in [the food bank],” she said. “The demographic we’re seeing most is single guys in their twenties and thirties. That’s who makes up majority of people that come. I’m sure there are more families out there in need, but there is the issue of being embarrassed.”
One way Duryea has found to help needy families avoid the embarrassment that comes with a trip to the food pantry is by giving a bag of food to anyone who volunteers. Right now, it is mostly the Duryea family running the food bank, but more help is always appreciated.
“It’s tough trying to write grants, organize and pick up food, stock shelves and pre-bag food,” Duryea said. “We might have someone that is ready to commit, but we have five children and right now it’s just us.”
While the Gunnison Country Food Pantry will serve only people with an address south of Almont, Duryea said she would take in anyone in need and as often as they need it. But keeping the shelves stocked in such trying times can be tough.
“Most of our donations actually don’t come from the [church] congregation. They come from the community,” she said. “Throughout the year they were steady but lately they’ve been on the lighter side. We rely heavily on donations to get us through the holidays.”
She said there is one gentleman who brings a donation to the food bank every week. Otherwise, many of the donations come from families who have used the bank and are returning the favor or kids who are learning to contribute to the community.
“I know people that have used the food bank and are still struggling but are coming in with an extra bag of groceries. It’s on their mind that if they’ve got a little extra, it can go to someone that needs it,” she said.
“Mostly, the donations are coming from kids,” she continued. “There are different youth groups and scout groups and school kids that will have food drives to donate to us. I think it’s great to instill that in kids.”
Along with individuals, Duryea said, the Crested Butte business community has stepped up to fill some of the gaps in the food bank’s cupboards. She said Crested Butte restaurants made a large donation of money and Izzy’s has donated bagels in the past.
“Everyone talks about [Crested Butte] being so affluent, but I don’t buy it,” Duryea said. “My friends are struggling and I think unless people are not needing to work, it’s tough to make it in the valley right now. I think it’s the community that really makes it possible for us to ease things for some people.”
People who could benefit from the food bank’s offering can find it open every Thursday (other than Christmas Eve) between 4 and 5:30 p.m. in the basement of the Oh-Be-Joyful Baptist Church.
Anyone donating non-perishable food items to the bank can do so either in the foyer of the church at the corner of 7th and Maroon in Crested Butte or at Clark’s Market. People interested in volunteering their time at the food bank can call the church at 349-6237.