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(GRAHAM FOOD PANTRY | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) A donation made to the Graham Community Food Pantry located at 601 Indiana St. The organization is seeking donations as the local need continues to rise. -
(GRAHAM FOOD PANTRY | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Taco soup meal kits that were donated to the Graham Community Food Pantry earlier this month. The organization is looking for additional donations as the local need rises each month.
The Graham Community Food Pantry is looking to the community for support as the need has risen from those utilizing its services each month.
The food pantry is under the umbrella organization of the Graham Crisis Center which is operated by Executive Director Joy Petersen. Since October, the organization has seen a 15% increase in clients.
“Due to the increase of living expenses and the state of our economy, families needing assistance with food have increased,” Petersen said. “Most recently, with the disruption of the SNAP program, the food pantry played a vital role to those individuals who utilized that option and needed extra support.”
After an extended government shutdown, SNAP benefits were temporarily halted for state residents which was driving some to reach out to food pantries across the state.
Last month, the food pantry distributed food to approximately 443 households, 1,417 individuals and had 43 new households sign up for the program.
“We are seeing an increase in homeless families needing food and benevolence assistance from the Crisis Center,” Petersen said. “Major factors such as landlords’ increase in insurance and maintenance fees are pushing the rent amounts out of the category of ‘low income’ or affordable for many individuals and families here in Graham and Young County.”
How the community can help is to donate shelf-stable items to the food pantry or make a monetary donation to continue helping them to serve neighbors in need. The organization is currently seeking frozen meat, shelf-stable canned meats, cereal and canned soup.
Aside from food items, donations of diapers, baby wipers and toiletry items are also being requested for the Graham Crisis Center. Community members can also volunteer to serve on an open day to help stock the food pantry.
The food pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and open 4-7 p.m. on the Thursday of every month. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Graham Crisis Center office at 601 Indiana St.
Graham Crisis Center will be closed from Dec. 24-27 and will be reopening Monday, Dec. 29.
Those in need can visit the pantry at 601 Indiana St. and fill out the paperwork for their household. Volunteers will walk the individual through the pantry so they can personally choose the food items that work best for them or their family.
Petersen said the organization is crucial to the health, stability and well-being of the community.
“In rural areas like ours, many individuals and families face food insecurity due to limited employment opportunities, fixed incomes, rising cost of living, health challenges and unexpected life events,” she said. “For some, access to affordable and nutritious food is not a guarantee but a daily concern. The food pantry serves as a critical safety net, ensuring that no neighbor has to choose between buying groceries and paying for basic necessities such as rent, utilities, or medication.”
