News
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
More turn to food banks
One official says children returning to school means families have less money for food.
By JUSTIN GEORGE, Times Staff Writer
Published September 11, 2007
TAMPA - Rose Brookins cried as she counted her blessings.
Notebook paper, crayons, glue, scissors, Band-Aids, sandwich bags and colored pencils. They were school supplies Metropolitan Ministries had donated, items she couldn't afford after buying her children school uniforms. Uniforms weren't a necessity for Brookins last year, and the small bump in expenses this year pushed her over a tight budget and made her sign up for assistance, including food stamps.
It's a common scenario, food bank officials said, something that's playing out more these days.
Of the 458 families who visited Metropolitan Ministries last week, 340 needed food assistance - a 10 percent increase from last year at this time.
Food bank officials aren't sure what's behind the increase. But Karl Celestine, coordinator of outreach services, said this is typically a needy time of year.
Families pay more in the summer to feed children who may otherwise eat at school. By the time classes start, many are drained, he said. Like Brookins, parents are also spending more money at the beginning of the school year for school clothes.
Because of the demand, food bank officials ask the public to be even more generous than usual and donate food, or their time as volunteers.
Brookins said many families, like hers, just need short-term help. She had a stable job in Okeechobee as a hotel front desk manager. But her son, who suffers from asthma and allergies, needed frequent doctor visits. So did her infant daughter, who struggled with different formulas. Soon, Brookins left her job to care for them.
Then Brookins' mother had gall bladder surgery and complications from diabetes. Brookins moved to Tampa to help but realized that she, too, needed a hand.
"Things are starting to look up," she added.
She just got a job at a McDonald's, working the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift.
Justin George can be reached at 813 226-3368 or jgeorge@sptimes.com.
FAST FACTS:
How to help
Metropolitan Ministries asks for donations to complete "Everyday Boxes of Hope." Boxes contain peanut butter, canned meat, canned beans, canned vegetables, canned fruit, rice or instant potatoes, pasta, macaroni and cheese, and cereal.
To give: Donations can be dropped off at the Metropolitan Ministries Donation Center, located at 2101 N Florida Ave., Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Money matters: Financial donations can be made at metromin.org or by calling (813) 209-1000.
[Last modified September 10, 2007, 23:14:47]
Share your thoughts on this story
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Letter to the editor
