Full bags or empty shelves? Food pantry struggles to provide
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CROCKETT COUNTY, Tenn. — Officials at the only food pantry in Crockett County say it’s struggling to feed the more than 2,500 people who rely on them.
“We have two deep freezers and one upright. At the moment, they are all empty,” said Brandy Buckingham, director of the Crockett Cares Food Pantry. “We have nothing in them.”
Buckingham said the current inventory sits at about 30 percent. Food is supplied by the Mid-South Food Bank out of Memphis.
Participating food pantries pay a fee for the food, whcih is estimated around six cents per one pound of food. For months, local churches have been raising a large portion of those funds.
“For the church, I think it’s simple — we are here for the people,” Pastor James Luveene said.
COO for the Mid-South Food Bank Tonya Bradley said about 980 children are facing food insecurity in the county. “Food insecurity just means simply not having enough,” she said.
Bradley said a $1 donation provides about three meals, but the food pantry is in desperate need of more volunteers and monetary donations.
“Our numbers show we should be distributing about 100,000 pounds of food annually,” she said. “Right now this year alone in the first six months, we’ve only served about 10,000 pounds.”
The Crockett Cares pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. The organization oinly has enough supply to provide food to qualifying participants once every three months.
On April 30, the pantry will provide a mobile pantry for Crockett County residents. Staff say a semi-truck will be stocked with fresh produce, canned foods and other items to feed around 300 families. Candidates must be pre-approved a receive vouchers by visiting the Crockett Cares Food Pantry during normal business hours.
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