As the economy continues to slide, more and more working-class families around the country and right here in Kent are trying to find ways to make ends meet.<\/p>\n
For Sheila Dozier and her family of five, that means getting her canned goods and breads from the Kent Food Bank.<\/p>\n
“I can’t make all my groceries at the store,” she said Wednesday. “Sometimes you just can’t do it all.”<\/p>\n
Dozier, who is currently employed, said it has become increasingly difficult over the past year to pay all of her bills as the cost of food and utilities has increased.<\/p>\n
“I have to do what I have to do to feed my family,” she said.<\/p>\n
Dozier said she has been coming to the food bank for about a year. At first, it was to help top things off: now she said she comes just to make sure there is food on the table.<\/p>\n
And the lines are getting longer, she said. As work is getting harder to find, Dozier said she has noticed more and more people at the food bank.<\/p>\n
“Nothing is available so it makes it much harder to be self-sufficient,” she said of the job market. “A lot of people are in need and they just can’t make it.”<\/p>\n
According to statistics provided by the food bank, Dozier is absolutely right.<\/p>\n
“Our client numbers have definitely gone up,” said Food Bank Executive Director Jeniece Choate. “Some people are working, just not able to make (all of their bills.)”<\/p>\n
So far this year, the number of clients served by the food bank is up 7.8 percent over 2007. That’s an additional 125 families per month. First-time visitors to the food bank are also up 25.8 percent over last year.<\/p>\n
By this time in 2007, 15,136 families had visited the food bank. So far this year, the number is 17,059.<\/p>\n
October was a particularly busy month for the food bank, as 273 new families and 56 new homeless clients visited the food bank, receiving a total of 78,210 pounds of food.<\/p>\n
At a recent meeting of the South King County Food Coalition, Choate said all food-bank directors said their October numbers were “off the chart.”<\/p>\n
“It was definitely a busy month all around King County,” she said.<\/p>\n
Choate said the Kent Food Bank, which services the boundaries of the Kent School District, does not ask about a family’s situation, but said she has seen an increase in working families so far this year, including some Boeing workers who were on strike longer than they anticipated.<\/p>\n
“Every person it’s a different reason they’re here and a different need they have,” she said.<\/p>\n
The Kent Food Bank receives its food through government commodities, volunteer drivers who pick up perishable items from local grocery stores, churches, schools and individuals.<\/p>\n
Choate said the food bank is “hanging on” but as winter sets in, she expects the client base to increase again.<\/p>\n
“We used to have a much bigger stockpile in the back,” she said.<\/p>\n
She also said while things will eventually get better, she is not sure when.<\/p>\n
“We anticipate it will be a while,” she said.<\/p>\n
Back in line, Dozier agreed, but urged other families to “hang in there” as she sees things getting better.<\/p>\n
“I’m optimistic about change,” she said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Brian Beckley can be reached at 253-437-6012 or bbeckley@kentreporter.com<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
BOX:<\/p>\n
The Kent Food Bank is located at 515 W. Harrison St. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The food bank is also open from 5-6p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.<\/p>\n
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays, the Food Bank is open at Springwood Apartments at 132nd St and Kent Kangley Road.<\/p>\n
Donations are accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays or by appointment. The Food Bank accepts all non-perishable foods as well as monetary donations.<\/p>\n
For more information, call 253-520-3550<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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