Thanksgiving in July

By Jami Brinton, Reporter

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By Jami Brinton

Story Created: Jun 30, 2009 at 3:22 PM CST

Story Updated: Jun 30, 2009 at 3:22 PM CST

IOWA CITY - More families in Johnson County are struggling to find food as they continue to feel the effects of the flood and on-going economic recession.

Each week nearly 800 families are going to the Johnson County Crisis Center in search of food. That's 27 percent more than just over a year ago.

The Crisis Center expects that increased need will remain for several months which is why decreased food donations during the summer hurt more than ever.

Each week, the Johnson County Crisis Center Food Pantry hands out about 20-thousand pounds of food. And the requests keep coming in.

"People who have lost their job and can't afford a new one," said Sarah Benson Witry, Food Pantry Supervisor at the Johnson County Crisis Center. "People who have reduced hours and can't pick up more."

"If you have a person working 40 hours per week and they cut back one day a week that's 20 percent of their pay," said Becci Reedus, Executive Director of the Johnson County Crisis Center. "One day pay could be their grocery bill ."

Among those asking for help are some families with school-age children.

During the academic year many children are fed breakfast and lunch at school, but during summertime that responsibility shifts to the parents.

"When they don't have that those families have an increased cost of food," said Benson Witry.

"They've got them usually for one meal five days a week and now they have 10 extra meals every week," said Reedus.

Which is why the Iowa City Community School District is teaming up with the crisis center to emphasize the importance of donating to the Thanksgiving in July food drive.

"Certainly meeting basic needs of students is very important and that starts with having children well fed and ready to go to school," said Lane Plugge, Iowa City Community School District Superintendent.

If you want to help feed a hungry family but don't have a lot of spare change, the crisis center says even picking up a couple of extra cans at the grocery store helps.

"It takes all of us doing a little. It doesn't take a few of us doing a lot," said Reedus.

Suggested donations include cash or monetary donations, cannet meat, fruit and vegetables, and peanut butter.

The Crisis Center hopes to receive 35-thousand pounds of donated food during its Thanksgiving in July drive. That's 10 percent more than last year.

To participate in Thanksgiving in July or for more information, contact Mercy on Call at 319-358-2767 or visit the website at www.thanksgivinginjuly.org.

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