Food Banks Struggle This Holiday Season

Food banks all over the ArkLaMiss are having a hard time keeping the shelves stocked. Father Bob Allen works with IHS, he said, “Right now they are pretty bare.” We’re just a few short days away from Thanksgiving and nearly all the shelves are empty in IHS the food pantry. Father Bob Allen says some of that has to do with the bad economy and a lot has to do with every time they get the shelves full, people come in needing help. “We’re feeding more people; obviously we’re feeding more people.” Not only are people losing their jobs but folks don’t have much extra cash lying around to donate to those in need. “When they don’t donate food for us to give the needy we have to go out and buy food.” Luckily for the IHS food pantry, eight churches in El Dorado donate money monthly. And some corporations like Murphy Oil will match donations given to IHS by any Murphy employee. But food isn’t the only thing IHS gives out. IHS is a crisis based agency and can also help with things like utility bills, medications and transportation for things like a doctor’s visit out of town. “We’ve had a big increase in the last couple of months because of the economy and we tried to acknowledge the holiday times.” IHS is a need based organization that is open Monday through Thursday at St. Marys Episcopal Church in El Dorado. And they are always accepting food or donations. “Basically looking for standard canned vegetables, we always get lots of green beans.”