Food pantry feels pinch of dwindling donations
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

FREEHOLD - The economy affects everything, including the Open Door Food Pantry that provides food and supplies to people in need of assistance.

According to Executive Director Jeanne Yaecker, the pantry's shelves, although not empty, could use a boost from individuals, organizations and businesses that are willing to make donations.

In 2005 the pantry received donations of food valued at $300,000. In 2006 the value of donated food amounted to about $250,000. Unless there is a big turnaround between now and December, the total value of food donated this year will drop to about $200,000, she said.

Yaecker said she thinks the reason donations are down is due to the economy.

"The sluggish economy has a lot to do with it," she said. "The economy is just not as good as one would like to think it is."

Add in the fact that Yaecker said the pantry is serving more people - even those that she has never before seen experiencing hard times - and that is why the food pantry is in need of more help these days, not less.

The director said that in August, Open Door helped 310 families comprising 835 individuals, up quite a bit from July when 642 individuals were given food. September's figures showed 715 individuals were helped.

Open Door serves more than 10,000 meals annually to residents in need in Freehold Borough Freehold Township, Marlboro Millstone Township and Colts Neck, but most of the participants in the program are residents of Freehold Borough.

Donations usually pick up around this time of year, Yaecker said, noting that donations from school food drives are coming in later than usual. In fact, several area schools helped to "jump start" the pantry to help stock shelves by having quick food drives on Back to School nights.

"We are so grateful for all those donations and for all who are helping us, but our need is so great it's hard to keep up. There is such an increase in the number of families who need our help," Yaecker said.

The last time the shelves of the food pantry looked "really good," according to the director, was in the beginning of June. Donations dropped off over the summer.

"We actually got to the point where there were only a few pasta boxes left on the shelves and that never happens here," she said.

With some cash donations and a Food- Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties delivery, the shelves are in better shape but are still in need. The pantry needs items such as beans (white pinto), tuna fish, canned fruit, canned vegetables, instant potatoes, canned potatoes, peanut butter, beef stew, macaroni and cheese, hot cereal, coffee, tea and other nonperishables.

Toiletries such as toothpaste, deodorant, soap and shampoo are always appreciated as well.

Yaecker said the local ShopRite and Foodtown supermarkets are "always wonderful to us. They work very closely with us and we are so grateful for all their help. We are hoping that people will remember that hunger does not only exist around the holidays. It's a day-to-day thing. There are three million people in this country struggling with hunger on a day-to-day basis."

The agency's annual $120,000 operating budget usually includes a six-month reserve of $60,000, according to Yaecker. The reserve does not usually dip below $50,000 and funds are generally replaced to keep it from becoming too depleted.

Right now, Yaecker said the reserve is at about $30,000, which she said is too low if a large emergency crops up that would require the pantry's assistance.

The majority of the agency's operating budget comes from a combination of support from local houses of worship and grants. Yaecker said houses of worship contribute a steady amount of about $40,000 annually. She said she applies for about $50,000 in grants for the budget and usually receives that amount.

This year, even grant awards are slow in coming. To date she has received $37,000, but she is hopeful that outstanding grants totaling another $36,000 will be in by the end of the year. Of course, Yaecker said she cannot count on that money until it arrives.

To donate food or toiletries, or to make a monetary donation, contact Open Door at (732) 780-1089.