Springfield, Ill., Nov 19, 2011 / 11:06 am
The still-faltering economy is adding unwanted stress to low-income families as they prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2011. So as the holidays approach, food pantries across the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are asking for assistance from the public to aid those who will come to them for help.
"The economy is definitely affecting the pantries in this area," said Janet Nelson, supervisor of Holy Family Food Pantry in Springfield. "At Holy Family, we're struggling to keep the basics that we need. I'm talking about things like peanut butter, jelly, canned goods, and boxes of macaroni and cheese.
"This year I've noticed we've even been low on canned fruit," Nelson said. "Luckily the farmers have been good about bringing in fresh fruit and vegetables, but now that it is fall, they won't have those available."
“St John’s Breadline will serve an estimated 900 individuals a traditional Thanksgiving meal,” said Nelson. “Meanwhile the Food Pantry is planning on serving 450 families for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, so we need both turkeys and hams.”