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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Cans of food line the shelves of the Graham Crisis Center food pantry. The food pantry has seen an uptick in those utilizing it services which has called for an additional food pantry day. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Food stacked up in boxes at the Graham Crisis Center food pantry. The food pantry service is available to all whose income is below the poverty line. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Frozen turkeys fill up four freezers at the Graham Crisis Center food pantry. Clients of the food pantry have increased recently causing the organization to adjust to the needs of the community.
As the need for food in the community is on the rise so too is the demand for volunteers at the Graham Crisis Center food pantry.
The food pantry located at 705 Indiana St. served 486 households and 1,450 individuals in October alone. GCC Executive Director Joy Petersen said the organization has seen a 45-50% increase in the demand for assistance with food and necessities.
“Due to us being overwhelmed those two days a week that we serve, usually Tuesdays and Thursdays, we’ve chosen to now offer another day open,” she said. “Now it’ll be Monday, Tuesday (and) Thursdays, (from) 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and (1 p.m.) to (3 p.m.) With the change comes the need for volunteers to help staff our food pantry.”
The organization is seeking community groups to assist at the food pantry for a day with a required four-to-six volunteers for the morning and afternoon shifts. The volunteers check in with the organization and take the menu orders from clients and provide their food in carts.
“It’s very easy to do, and we instruct them to just pull food that the people have chosen off of our menus, and that way our clients get what they need that works for their families,” Petersen said. “Essentially, it’s 40-45 pounds of food. It takes about 10 minutes per order. We’ll train you. ...Once they fulfill the food order, they push the carts out to our clients and some help them out to their cars.”
The food pantry serves from 40-80 individuals on the days of service, with the second Tuesday being the busiest day of the month. Approximately 3,500 pounds of food is given out per week from the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank and combined with 300 pounds from local donors.
Petersen said it takes close to 4,000 pounds of food per week to feed clients of the food pantry and that is increasing each month with new families signing up for the program.
“With the state of our country and inflation of living cost, we have to help our community more than ever,” she said. “Volunteering is a vital part of our organization, and giving back through food and clothing and love is more important than ever. We can’t do the food pantry without our volunteers, so we’re very grateful for everyone that’s stepped in and answered the call. And if we could get a few new people on board or even our regulars... that would mean so much.”
To volunteer for the food pantry or other branches of the crisis center, call 940-549-6002, or email joy@grahamcrisiscenter.org.
As the winter months are approaching, the organization is requesting donations of rice, soups and canned meats for the pantry.
For those needing additional food, WFAFB provides a commodities truck that is set up in the parking lot of Eastside Church of Christ from 1-3 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.
Those in the community who need emergency food assistance can contact the food pantry at 940-549-6002 and leave a message on option three.
