Feeding demand: Pantries cope with decreasing donations

An unemployed Franklin father whose son used to get at least one meal a day at school is now trying to keep himself and his teen fed over the summer.

Mike Beck lost his job as a welder a year ago, and for the past seven months he has been going to the InterChurch Food Pantry in Franklin to keep food in his cupboards and refrigerator. That gets a little harder during the summer, when his teenage son is out of school and eating more often at home.

Beck and others in need can visit InterChurch once every 30 days for food, such as canned goods, bread, meat and, if it’s in stock, peanut butter.

The number of residents relying on the pantry for help feeding their families dropped after the holidays when Christmas money and tax refunds helped people pay for groceries. But now with that money gone and kids at home for the summer, more families need help providing food.

In May, 751 families, totaling 2,975 people, came to InterChurch for food. That monthly volume is at the high end of the pantry’s summer average, according to InterChurch board president Pat Foster.

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