Donations down at local food banks; economy to blame

Americans have been hit hard by the nation?s falling economy, but none harder than those who were facing difficult times before the crisis.Over the last three months, local food pantries have seen an increase of new visitors paired with fewer and smaller donations.?It?s pretty tough down here right now,” said Mary Lou Maher, board member of Haven from Hunger in Peabody, the North Shore?s largest food pantry. “People used to walk in with money donations and that really isn?t happening anymore. People used to walk in with food donations and that really isn?t happening anymore either.”According to Maher, donations of all sorts have gone down by at least 50 percent since the summer months.?People seem to forget about us,” she said. “Then usually, near the holidays, donations always pick up, but it?s really hard to say what will happen this year.”Haven, like many other local food pantries, relies on larger food banks and private donations in order to provide balanced meals for those in need. But, with escalating food prices and the need getting bigger and bigger, Maher said doing their job is becoming more difficult.?I think (food banks) are struggling, too, but no one?s really said anything,” she said. “Our order this month was much smaller than it usually is. They offered up much less. I?m assuming they?re having issues, too.”Haven offers pantry services, as well as sit down dinners, out of their downtown Peabody location. According to Maher, their supper program went from serving 25-30 guests each night to 55-30 guests, many of whom are single mothers.?When it comes to the end of the month, our numbers go up a lot more because people just don?t have the money until their (paychecks) come in,” she said. “We do have a lot of singles coming to our dinner, too. It?s a varied group, a little bit of everything because everybody?s struggling.”Maher said her organization appreciates the generosity of local businesses, like Stop & Shop, who regularly donates bread, and BJ?s Wholesale Club and Hannaford Supermarkets, who both provide the pantry with pastries. She also mentioned a Gloucester fishing company that has long offered them free fish.But, much more is needed, said Maher. Basic items such as peanut butter, jelly, soup, fruit, vegetables, canned tuna, dry pasta, macaroni and cheese – anything that?s easy to cook on a hot plate – would help Haven customers greatly.In Lynn, Marion Canizaro, director of Sacred Heart?s Tree of Life Food Pantry on Boston Street, said his donations are down at least by 10 percent, while need is up at least 12 percent.?In the summer donations are always down but usually they start back in September but they haven?t started back like they should,” he said. “They?ve stayed at summer levels.”For a pantry that caters to about 200 patrons per week, the drop in donations is worrisome.?We?re kind of going backwards and there are certain foods we just can?t get, like pasta, rice, starches,” said Canizaro.Canizaro said if they can provide rice or pasta, “that will fill a belly,” then they can add beans or something else to dress it up. The price of cereal has also gone up significantly and Canizaro said it is hard to come by.?Then there are the little things we need like the plastic bags you get at the grocery store,” he said.Canizaro said they use between 700 and 1,000 of those plastic bags per week in packaging food and buying them is an expense they can?t afford.Despite his concerns Canizaro said he tries not to worry.?In this business you learn real quick to just leave it to God because this is God?s business,” he said.The Rev. Michael Ferraro at St. Mary?s pantry on North Common Street said they are not feeling a pinch with donations, but they are spending more to make up any shortfall. He, too, has seen a jump in visitors.On Mondays, the pantry hands out bread and pastries to roughly 350-400 people. Ferraro said the number has jumped to between 500 and 600.The Saugus Food Pantry at 50 Essex St. has not been