Soup kitchens in Schuylkill County are seeing more new faces at their doors, volunteers in Minersville and Pottsville said Wednesday.
It seems inflation and the troubled economy are draining pocketbooks and cracking nest eggs, according to Barb Graf, a cook at God's Bountiful Table Soup Kitchen in Minersville, and Rosemary Cairns, coordinator of the Pottsville Area Soup Kitchen.
"I think it's the economy and people are telling me with the food stamp cut that they're doing, we can expect more of an increase," Cairns said.
She was referring to the recent cut in food stamp benefits for 1.8 million low-income Pennsylvanians.
"There's definitely more need in this area," Graf said Wednesday.
"We're noticing this. And we're noticing people are bringing some children in, which we're glad of. And we see a few teenagers," Cairns said.
God's Bountiful Table Soup Kitchen, which is run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Matthew the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Minersville, has been operating for five years, Graf said.
Last year, it served an average of 175 people on each of the days it was operating. The soup kitchen is open twice a month, Graf said.
"Since the beginning of the year, we've added about 50 people to our list, people we deliver to or who come here to pick up meals," Graf said.
On Wednesday, more than 15 volunteers at the soup kitchen's headquarters at Church and Spencer streets in Minersville were cooking meals for 227. Among the volunteers was Rose Fedornak, Minersville.
"The economy is so bad, I roll my own cigarettes. At the counter, you'll pay five dollars a pack. If you roll your own, it's about a buck a pack," Fedornak said.
Run by St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, the Pottsville Area Soup Kitchen, 504 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, started in March 1984. It has more than 100 volunteers throughout the year, Cairns said.
"We'll be here 30 years in March. We don't do take out or home delivery. It's always a sit-down meal," said Rose, who has been there 27 years.
She said the number of people coming out to the Pottsville Area Soup Kitchen is higher than it has ever been in the 27 years she has been there.
"In fiscal year 2011 to 2012, we served 10,687 meals. And from July 2012 to June of 2013, we served 11,661. This year, we've had as high as 76 for one seating. It fluctuates. But it's up. I'd say in the last year we had a 10 percent increase in the number of people who are coming out to our soup kitchen. Last year, we were doing about 45 meals a night. Now, we're doing more than 60," Cairns said.
Both of these soup kitchens receive food from the federal government through Schuylkill Community Action, Pottsville, plus donations from area businesses and local donations, according to Graf and Cairns.
In November, Jason Schally, program operations specialist for Schuylkill Community Action, said demand for goods at food pantries in Schuylkill County is on the rise, but federal support has been dwindling.
"Jason helps us a lot," Graf said of Schally.
Cairns works for the church as a secretary and being soup kitchen coordinator is part of her duties, but she said she also volunteers a lot of time at the soup kitchen.
Looking ahead, Cairns, Graf and Joan Weiderhold, pastor of First Congregational Church of Minersville, said they believe if the economy continues to challenge society, demand for free food at soup kitchens will continue to grow.
"We're not having trouble operating. People are so generous. We're fine, right now," Cairns said.
Looking ahead, Graf said she wasn't sure what the future would bring, but said "somehow or other, God always provides."
Graf also works at the circulation desk at Minersville Public Library and she is the financial secretary at Hillside SPCA, Pottsville.
Traditionally, God's Bountiful Table Soup Kitchen in Minersville is open twice a month, the second and fourth Wednesdays, Graf said.
"Since Christmas is the fourth Wednesday this year, we moved it a week ahead. Usually we have about 10 to 15 people who come in to sit down and have their meals here. We have another 100 who we deliver to and we have another 100 who come here to pick up their meals and take them home," Graf said.
At 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, a 75-year-old man who wished to remain anonymous was having a sit-down lunch there, enjoying the main dish.
"It's halupki casserole," Graf said.
"It helps me make ends meet. And it's a good meal," the man said.
Soup kitchens in Schuylkill County include the following:
- First Congregational Church, 315 Sunbury St., Minersville, "Soup Night," 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 13, homemade food, desserts and beverages at no charge. For more information, call 570-544-6213.
- Schuylkill Regional Resource Center, 138 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City, serves people age 60 and over. For more information, call 570-773-0738.
- God's Bountiful Table Soup Kitchen, Church and Spencer streets, Minersville. Free prepared meals are offered the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-4316 or 570-622-4929.
- Salvation Army Corps, 400 Sanderson St., Pottsville. Free meals are available to the public at noon Fridays. For more information, call 570-622-5252.
- Pottsville Area Soup Kitchen, 504 Mahantongo St., Pottsville. Free prepared meals are available to the public 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at noon Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 570-622-1802.
- Pottsville Senior Community Center, 201 N. Centre St., Pottsville, serves people age 60 and over. For more information, call 570-628-3513.
- Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 252 Dock St., Schuylkill Haven, hosts community meal which is provided the first and third Sunday of each month. For more information, call 570-385-2657.
- Schuylkill Haven Senior Community Center, Main and Dock streets, Schuylkill Haven, serves people age 60 and over. For more information, call 570-385-5611.
- Shenandoah Senior Community Center, 116 North Main St., Shenandoah, serves people age 60 and over. For more information, call 570-462-1965.
- Tremont Senior Community Center, 139 Clay St., Tremont, serves people age 60 and over. For more information, call 570-695-3500.
Source: Jason Schally, program operations specialist for Schuylkill Community Action, Pottsville.