InfoKwik Kansas City Area News

Harvesters Increases Food Purchase Budget

Kansas City, MO – In response to the rising cost of food and an increase in demand for emergency food assistance throughout Greater Kansas City, Harvesters’ board of directors this week approved a fiscal year 2009 budget that includes a 233 percent increase in funds to purchase food. The new budget year begins on July 1. To address immediate food needs, Harvesters also is reallocating $30,000 from its current budget to purchase food in order to meet the demand in June.

“Food costs were the highest they had been in 17 years last year, and they have been increasing rapidly this year as well,” said Karen Haren, president and CEO of Harvesters. “When you combine that with record fuel prices, many individuals who were just getting by a few months ago have now been forced to turn to our network of pantries and soup kitchens for assistance.”

Increasing demand

According to Haren, Harvesters’ member agencies reported that the number of people they served in 2007 increased approximately 15 percent. “While we don’t have official statistics yet for this year, we do know from our agencies that they are seeing more people turning to them for help and they are struggling to keep up with demand,” Haren said.

“We are particularly concerned as we enter the summer months because demand typically goes up—even in the best of economies—when families who rely on free and reduced-price meals at school must find a way to feed their children at home,” she added. “Those families typically turn to our network for help, at the very same time that we also face a summer slowdown in food donations.”

Decreasing food donations

In addition to the increasing demand, Harvesters is also facing a decrease in the number of food donations it receives.

“The food industry has been pinched by the increasing cost of food and fuel, just as other industries have,” Haren said. “The necessity for food manufacturers and retailers to more carefully monitor their bottom lines has resulted in a decrease in excess food available for donation to the food bank.”

In response to these issues, Harvesters’ Board of Directors this week approved a Fiscal Year 2009 budget that includes $2 million for food purchase. That is a 233 percent increase over last year.

“This is a new reality that food banks across the country are facing,” said Beth Hall, president of Harvesters’ board of directors. “The inventory of food available for donation is just not as big as it once was, but the need for food assistance continues to rise. Many of our fellow food banks across the country are making up that gap by purchasing food as well.”

How the community can help

In order to respond to the need in our community for emergency food assistance, Harvesters is also asking the public for assistance by donating food, money and time.

“Our response to those in need is only as strong as the community’s response to our call for assistance,” Haren said. “The community has always come forward when the need has been great, and we are confident that they will respond now.”

Give Food

Donate non-perishable food to help Harvesters serve the nearly 60,000 hungry people who turn to its network every week for help. Donations can be made at Harvesters at 3801 Topping Ave. or at drop-off locations throughout Greater Kansas City (find drop-off locations by visiting www.harvesters.org and clicking on “Give Food”). Individuals, organizations and companies interested in sponsoring a food drive for Harvesters can download a Food Drive Toolkit at www.harvesters.org.

Give Money

While the food purchase budget has increased for the next fiscal year, Harvesters’ need for funds has necessarily increased as well. Make a donation online at www.harvesters.org or mail your donation to Harvesters, P.O. Box 412233, Kansas City, MO 64141-2233. With every $1 donated, Harvesters can provide 5 meals for those in need.

Give Time

Harvesters relies on thousands of volunteers every month. Sign up online at www.harvesters.org or call Harvesters at 816.929.3090.

About Harvesters—The Community Food Network

Harvesters is Kansas City’s only food bank. Covering a 13-county metropolitan area, Harvesters provides food and related household products to more than 550 not-for-profit agencies including emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, children’s homes, homes for the mentally disabled and shelters for battered persons. Harvesters, which was founded in 1979, is a certified member of America’s Second Harvest, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, serving all 50 states.