Hunger is growing problem Fauquier
By By: Haley Huie
The Fauquier County Food Distribution Coalition's monthly food drive, held from 10 a.m. until noon, will hand out pots, pans, dishes and suitcases in what will be the last food drive before the group begins to take in warm-weather supplies. At the next drive, set for May 19, the group will provide children's summer clothes, addressing the needs of a new season.Susan Dove, president of the coalition, said the group tries to adjust with the seasons, focusing on coats for winter and back-to-school supplies at the end of the summer, but its main focus is to provide food for those who qualify.
Dove said she's learned during her work with the organization that hunger in Fauquier County is well-hidden and more widespread than is generally recognized.
"We just don't know," she said. "There is a greater need out there than the community knows. When they find out, they jump in with everything they have."
Volunteers for the distributions and community organizations have been very supportive, she said, adding that some recipients come back to offer their time after they pick up their food.
"There's a lot of respect, a lot of love and a lot of appreciation for one another," Dove said.
Recently, the food supply from USDA has been severely cut, leaving the group looking to other sources for discounted food.
Dove said the group packages boxes of food for families and individuals based on how many people they will be providing for - and the boxes have recently come up short on proteins. They need more canned tuna, salmon and other nonperishable items to supplement the boxes to help provide a more balanced diet, she said.
Ann O'Connor, a nutritionist with the Fauquier County Health Department, said that when school is out for the summer, children don't always have access to the breakfasts and lunches usually provided by the schools.
People also often need more liquids when the weather heats up, she added.
O'Connor, a member of the coalition, said the group collects the supplies and food from the community year-round, and welcomes fresh produce if it's brought in on the day of the giveaway, since storage is limited.
A challenge for the group is to provide foods that are necessary for a balanced diet.
"A lot of the lower-quality foods are less expensive," O'Connor said. Financial concerns often win out over buying proteins, fruits and vegetables when those with tight budgets are shopping for food.
Warrenton and Bealeton seem to have the greatest needs, but O'Conner said there are cases across the county where families are living below the poverty line.
"When you're in a temporary bind, it's not always that easy to find important resources," O'Connor said.
One problem people face is that there are many assistance programs available, but they aren't always able to qualify for them. The food stamps program is one example of a program that people have difficulty accessing because of the amount of paperwork involved, according to Mittie Wallace, program manager for Fauquier County Social Services.
When people apply for the food stamps, they fill out a 14-page application. They may become eligible for other programs, and can benefit from seeking outside help if they feel they need it, Wallace said. From the information given on food stamps applications, she has found an increase in the amount of income people are having to apply to shelter. Some are spending half or two-thirds of what they earn to pay rent or a mortgage.
Others simply have trouble staying afloat in the midst of escalating medical bills and the cost of food.
"For us, what we see is that the majority of people we serve are elderly or disabled," she said. "It is difficult for those with special dietary needs to provide themselves with the correct foods."
Wallace said she works with diabetics who can't afford lean meats and vegetables, so they're forced to buy the cheaper starches and carbohydrates which make it difficult to maintain a healthy blood-sugar level.
Wallace said Social Services will be hosting discussions and outreach activities at local elderly housing facilities o raise awareness about medical and nutritional needs as part of Abuse and Neglect Month in May.
She said the needs of the elderly, disabled and those living in poverty don't necessarily stem from abuse or neglect on behalf of caretakers, but could be remedied if people understand the long-term benefits of caring for themselves.
"It's not neglect, it's just economics - they can't afford these things," she said referring to costly medications and some foods recommended by doctors.
There are many organizations around the county that offer aid. Tyronne Champion, the pastor of True Deliverance Church in Bealeton, said his church sponsors a nonprofit organization that operates a food pantry. The pantry has grown since it opened in 2001, and typically serves between 15 and 20 families during the weekly Saturday morning giveaways.
"I didn't know the need was so great, in terms of hunger, and those that suffer the most are children," he said. When children don't get enough to eat or don't have access to a balanced diet, it can affect their level of success in school, Champion said.
Champion said he would like to see more donations. He said the pantry almost always has enough food to meet the needs of those who come in, but he and his wife have personally given when the group ran out of food and there were still needy people to be fed.
"We want to feed more people, so we just need more funding," he said.
E-mail the reporter: hhuie@timespapers.com