Local food pantry sees need increase as prices rise

• By MARY BAILEY The Reporter

Your total is $158.12,” said the cashier at the register.

Quickly you think, the mortgage is paid but the light bill is due. Car payment is due. But you need to feed your family. You make the decision.

“I’d like to put half on my credit card and pay the rest in cash, please,” you say to the cashier.

Millions across the country have been faced with these very issues as food insecurities continue to rise.

On Sept 1, a 1% tax cut on groceries went into effect for the state of Alabama. Meaning we will now be taxed at 3% on grocery items instead of 4%.

When you try to break it down, when buying a $4 gallon of milk with 4% tax, you would be paying 16 cents. When the tax went into effect, you now will only pay 12 cents.

Pennies on the dollar that add up but to many it just isn’t enough.

Linda Henry, Executive Director of Marshall County Christian Services, has seen the number of people needing food assistance climb dramatically over the years.

“It all started with the women’s programs, but we started the food pantry in 2005,” Henry said. “You can’t teach a woman the basics of survival when she’s hungry and her family is hungry, and their power has been cut off. You have to provide for the whole person, the whole family. Single moms are a big part of our society nowadays.”

Henry has been working with the food pantry for 25 years.

“Financially we are struggling,” she continued. “We take donations and need donations all the time. I can go to Huntsville to the North Alabama Food Bank and purchase food for 14 cents a pound. And that’s meat, canned goods and produce. It’s a lot cheaper than going to the grocery store. Financially if we want to make our money go further through the food bank. Even the people that have food stamps, the prices have gone so high that their food stamps do not supplement what they need for their families.”

Henry said there have been times they have had nothing on the shelves and then a way is made for them to still help.

“It’s God, all of it,” she continued. “Some days we don’t know where it’s going to come from but then God always makes a way. We don’t ever want to turn anyone away that needs help.”

For people who need food assistance, the Second Chance Food Pantry in Albertville is open Wednesday and Fridays, beginning at 10:30 a.m. until food runs out.

TESA in Arab has a food pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Both are under Marshall County Christian Services.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Henry at (256) 572-0626.