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Volunteer Way Food Bank Swamped During Holidays

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: November 29, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The slumping economy is placing a strain on food banks that are being forced to turn away some people seeking food.

In October alone, the Volunteer Way helped 1,760 struggling families with food, according to Lester Cypher, the chief executive officer of the food bank on Congress Street.

Another 1,965 families, however, had to leave empty-handed after food bank supplies ran out, Cypher emphasized in his monthly summary.

Besides directly helping people, the Volunteer Way assists some 70 other food pantries, soup kitchens and 28 local charities with food and personal items, Cypher said.

"The Volunteer Way is standing in the gap for over 18,000 hungry families each month," Cypher wrote in his report. "Each month we have hundreds of new families signing up for assistance. We are now running out of food every week."

The number of families who received no food in October was nearly triple the number of families turned away in September, according to Cypher.

As a result, Cypher is pleading for donations. "We are a faith-based charity that never charges any fees for the food and personal items we distribute," he said.

Volunteer Way often can leverage even a $10 donation to help pay for 200 pounds of food, he noted.

Benefactors can send checks to: Volunteer Way, 7820 Congress St., New Port Richey, FL 34653, or donate via its secure Web site, www.thevolunteerway.org.

For information call the food bank at 727-815-0433.

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