Foodbank having hard time meeting needs
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Cho Lee wraps a pallet of good items at the Vermont FoodBank in Barre Town. JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR/TIMES ARGUS |
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By Peter Hirschfeld Vermont Press Bureau - Published: December 17, 2009
BARRE – Dwindling funds at the Vermont Foodbank have imperiled the organization's ability to provide food to the unprecedented number of residents now relying on its services.
Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles said Wednesday that difficult economic conditions have already exacted a significant toll on staffing levels at his organization.
"Like everyone, we're feeling the effects of the economy and already in the last year have made cutbacks," Sayles said. "We've left a number of positions unfilled and we have our new distribution center in Brattleboro which we're not fully staffing right now."
The operational cutbacks come as the Foodbank grapples with the highest demand in its history. Without an immediate increase in the private donations that fund the organization, Sayles said, the Foodbank could be forced to embark on additional cost-cutting measures that could jeopardize its ability to provide food to hundreds of agencies around Vermont.
"Even with these efforts we're still struggling, and we want to make sure that Vermonters know that we're in a position we need some help," he said. "It's possible we're going to have to cut back more if we don't get some more support … and I don't want to be making those kinds of decisions here without first letting people know what's going on."
In the current fiscal year, Sayles estimates the Foodbank will deliver about 8 million pounds of food to 280 "network partners" that include food pantries, senior centers, homeless shelters and other nonprofit agencies. That's a significant increase, according to Sayles, over last year's record-setting 7.5 million pounds, and reflects an unrelenting spike in demand. A U.S. Department of Agriculture report on hunger released last month confirmed the anecdotal trends seen at food shelves around the state. More than 75,000 Vermonters, the report found, are living on the brink of hunger.
"Vermonters are still losing their jobs and seeing their hours cut," Sayles said. "We see working families, seniors, and more than 20,000 children struggling with hunger, and demand continues to rise."
The budgetary woes, he said, could complicate the Foodbank's mission. The organization's $5 million annual operating budget pays for the acquisition, packaging and delivery of millions of pounds of food. About 90 percent of the Foodbank budget is supported by private donations from Vermont residents.
"If in fact we have to reduce overtime and control fuel costs, it may mean we don't do as many grocery pickups," he said.
Sayles said local agencies are seeing a 35 to 40-percent increase in the number of hungry Vermonters seeking food.
"People have been extremely generous with us and we appreciate it," Sayles said. "But it's a difficult time right now and we really need more support."
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