Food Bank gaining in people; lower on food

By By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Jul 29, 2009 at 2:34 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 29, 2009 at 2:34 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Utica Community Food Bank hits a scary milestone - but what really frightens the volunteers are these bare shelves.

For the first time ever in their 30+ year history, the Food Bank, last month, saw 5,000 people come through their doors, looking for food - and they've not going to find much.

This is the most barren we have ever seen the Utica Community Food Bank's shelves. And, except for a nightly vegetable delivery from a local grocery store, this is all they've got until a truck from the Syracuse Food Bank comes on Monday. This is what they have to get through the rest of the week and all weekend.

"Two years ago it was in the 2,600, 2,800, 3,600 at the absolute most," said Kim Strong, Director of the Food Bank. "That was a record for us. And now that we're over the 5,000 mark, that's a new record for us."

People and organizations don't have food drives in the Summer. And their $10 or $20 a month donors just aren't there anymore. And Summers are always tough because kids who get breakfast and lunch in school all year, don't have that over the Summer.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

What's On