On a typical day at the Madison County Food Bank and ACTION office in Danielsville recently, a soft-spoken gentleman walked in and hesitantly asked if someone could help him with gas expenses to get to several upcoming heart specialist appointments.
Just a few moments later, the phone rang. The caller said the power company has just turned off their electricity for nonpayment and someone in their home is on oxygen. Can anyone help?
In the meantime, volunteers stock the nearly bare shelves with the food items that have come in over the last few days, knowing it’ll be gone in no time. Food ran out in just one hour during a recent distribution, forcing many in need to leave empty-handed.
Food Bank director Bobbie Rooker says things are worse than she’s ever seen them. “This is the first time in 12 years that my shelves have been as low as they are now,” Rooker said. “Donations are down, and I can understand why, but it’s scary.”
The Madison County Food Bank opened in a county office building on Crawford W. Long Street in May 1981, serving an average of five families per month, Rooker said. These days, the food bank serves at least 70 to 80 families per month.
Rooker is also concerned because Christmas is coming and she worries how the current economic crisis will affect the food bank’s ability to provide toys for needy county children this year.
Though it’s normal for food bank donations to fluctuate up and down, running typically lower in summer when schools are out and people are on vacation, Rooker says there’s always been enough reserve funds to carry them through those lean periods, but not this year.
“I’m really worried,” she said.
Her mainstays are the churches that provide the bulk of donations, along with at least four individuals who give monthly to the food bank. But she knows the resources of churches are also being stretched thin, as they work to help the needy in their congregations and community.
She is hopeful things will pick up somewhat now that schools are back in session, since most do food drives, along with other groups such as the Boy Scouts and 4-H.
Rooker points out that the food bank is one place where donors can rest assured that100 percent of their donations stay in Madison County.
“When you bring food or make out a check to the Madison County Food Bank, it all goes to that, there are no administrative costs,” Rooker said, adding that donations are tax-deductible.
And most any type of food can now be donated – not just non-perishables. “We have three freezers here now to store frozen goods,” Rooker said. Meat items, including deer meat can be accepted, but it must be processed and date-stamped. Fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods are also acceptable, along with the always-needed staples of canned and boxed food stuffs. Toiletry items, like bath tissue, paper towels, soap, dishwashing liquid, cleaners and other household goods are also needed.
Frozen, ready to eat meals are great to have on hand, Rooker noted, especially meals for seniors, or family size meals, like frozen lasagna.
“This is by far the worst I’ve seen it, even the calls for assistance has just tripled,” Rooker said. And worse than that, she has nothing to offer them right now – funds for electricity, rent/mortgage payments, gas, etc. are just non-existent right now.
WANT TO HELP?
Food bank director Bobbie Rooker says that those who would like to make donations of food or other goods should call the food bank first, since they are short-staffed right now. Regular office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and the office number is 706-795-2180. The office is closed for now on Fridays. For those who can’t make it to the food bank office, call 706-245-8590 to arrange for drop off at Jones Chapel United Methodist Church, who is one of the regular sponsors of the food bank. If anyone wants to contribute to those funds, they can send or bring their check to the food bank and write “non-food donation” on the memo line. Please make all checks payable to the Madison County Food Bank. The address is P.O. Box 101, Danielsville, GA 30633.
