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Local food pantries and soup forum phentermine phpbb2 are experiencing precipitous decreases in donations. "It's a very challenging time for us," said Melanie Gosselin, executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, which provides food to 345 agencies, primarily food pantries and soup forum phentermine phpbb2 from Berlin to the seacoast. "We usually have 700,000 pounds of food in stock and we now have 126,000. That's a half a million pound shortage." Gosselin said the demand for food is up 30 to 40 percent. "It's hard to say why," she said. "Higher gasoline prices, the rise in the price of home heating oil and natural gas.... The working poor are feeling the pinch and so are the people who normally make donations." The food bank also has seen a significant drop in donations from local supermarkets, Gosselin said. "We used to receive eight tractor trailer trucks a month; now we only receive about three." She attributes the drop to computerized inventory control at supermarkets, which results in less overbuying, formerly a big source for food banks. What little is left is sold on the salvage market. "The supermarkets have become more efficient," she said. That might be good news to the businesses but it doesn't bode well for agencies that gather food for the poor. The Merrimack Valley Food Bank, which provides food to about 100 food pantries and soup forum phentermine phpbb2 in Greater Lowell, the North Shore, and southern New Hampshire, also has seen a big drop in donations. "From 2006 to 2007, we experienced a 23.8 percent decrease in food donations," said Amy Pessia, executive director of the group. "This represents the nonperishable food drive items and those we receive from food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers." Pessia said the food bank distributed 2 million pounds of food in fiscal year 2006. She estimates demand will increase about 10 percent this year. "The cost of living being what it is, with car payments, home heating fuel, and natural gas prices going up, people are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. People who normally provide donations are feeling the financial pinch, too." My Brother's Table, a soup kitchen in Lynn, is among the groups that receive donations from the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. Ilia Stacy, executive director of the kitchen, said the group served 90,000 meals last year and is expecting to serve more this year. In the last couple of months, the number of lunches served at the kitchen has nearly doubled to about 100 a day. The kitchen also serves dinner to about 200 people each night. "It's too soon to say what's going to happen. At this point, [we are] not too pinched; but we're paying close attention." Julie LaFontaine, executive director of The Open Door/Cape Ann Food Pantry In Gloucester, which delivers about 20,000 pounds of food to 1,200 households each month, said she hasn't experienced a drop in food donations, but there have been increases in the lines at the food pantry in recent months. "Monetary donations don't appear to be down," said Ellen Parker, executive director of Project Bread, the leading contributor of funds to emergency food programs in Massachusetts. Each year, Project bread donates about $2.5 million to Massachusetts emergency food programs, primarily money raised through its annual Walk for Hunger. In October, the group distributed $211,425 to 45 emergency food programs on the North Shore. But Parker said money is not enough. "Local food pantries and soup forum phentermine phpbb2 rely on money from Project Bread, public money, and local food donations. Any drop in food donations or the number of volunteers has a significant effect. It takes a lot to run a local food kitchen, and they're under the gun." Salvation Army Major Chet Emmons, who oversees his organization's food pantry and soup kitchen in Portsmouth, said the Rotary Club food drive in October collected 2,000 pounds of food and "got our supplies up to a workable level for a couple of weeks." But this time of year, donations are slow to the kitchen that serves from 45 to 75 people a day. "People... have other things on their mind," he said, "but all donations are appreciated. We're a small operation, but we have a big need." What you can do to help food pantries In addition to canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, and other nonperishable food items, items needed at My Brother's Table in Lynn include staples such as salt, sugar, and tea, according to executive director Ilia Stacy. "We are always running out of tea." Major Chet Emmons of the Salvation Army food pantry and soup kitchen in Portsmouth said there's a shortage of fresh meats and vegetables, as well as items like shaving cream and soap. Amy Pessia of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank said baby blankets and supermarket gift cards are always welcome, as well as, of course, cold, hard cash. "Sometimes helping out is as easy as writing a check," Pessia said. Stacy agreed. "We pay $2,800 a month in rent to the city and about that much each month in utilities. Money is always helpful." Stacy said that donations of leftover food from catered events is also welcome. And, of course, there is always the gift of time. "Volunteering is a great family activity," Pessia said. "Some families even bring preschoolers along and they all have a great time." "The emergency food system is very dependent on volunteers," said Ellen Parker, executive director of Project Bread. "Local food forum phentermine phpbb2 in particular are very dependent on food donations and people who donate their time. If a Cub Scout pack or other community group decides not to hold a food drive, it can really hurt." TOM LONG © Copyright 2007 Glob paper Company. ... forum phentermine phpbb2