DANVILLE — Although donations help, small faith-based pantries rely heavily on the Eastern Illinois Food Bank in Urbana

Cheryl Precious, director of development, said the food bank serves about 20 faith-based groups in Vermilion County, and those groups get about 75 percent of their food from the bank.

The bank provides groceries to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and snack programs. The snacks are for after-school and day-care programs serving low-income children. Last year, the bank moved 6.2 million pounds of food in a 14-county area.

Groups buy food from the bank, ranging up to 19 cents a pound, and some items are free.

“We can turn a dollar into $10 worth of food,” Precious said.

The bank is able to keep its costs to agencies down because it also receives individual and corporate donations, grants, and United Way support.

Just the same, the rising costs are an issue — especially the costs of fuel and utilities. The bank uses a commercial-size refrigerator and also delivers food.

In addition, the bank is seeing an increase in the number of people asking for help, she said. The agencies in 14 counties feed more than 100,000 people each year, she said, adding, “That’s staggering when you think about the counties; most are rural. That’s a lot of people who need help right now.”

While the bank has to distribute more food, it’s not getting more donations from large companies such as Kraft and General Motors. In general, corporations aren’t donating as much; they’re getting more efficient and have fewer surpluses, Precious said.

On the plus side, she said, “We’re getting better at fundraising and forming and maintaining ties with large donors.”

Last year, for example, West Newell & Co., which is owned by Super Value, donated 360,000 pounds of produce. And earlier this month, Mussman’s Back Acres donated 21,000 eggs.

Eastern Illinois Food Bank is part of a network of 205 banks that belong to Feeding America, which helps the bank get better rates for food, she said.

An exception

While the food bank is the main source of groceries for most, not every church uses its services. The Community Church of God, for example, has an emergency food pantry supported by its congregation.

“We’ve been very fortunate because we do have a very giving congregation,” coordinator Debby Batroni said.

Donations also come from the community, such as the post office’s annual food drive.

An average of 26 families (about 125-150 individuals) show up once a month, from 1-3 p.m. on a Friday. The pantry is open to anyone once; after that, the person is referred to other resources through Love INC.

“The goal is to help people out, not become a way of life,” she said.

The pantry also started offering hygiene products, such as deodorant and shampoo, but people must be referred through Love INC.

The pantry operates out of a room at Love INC, and so storage space is limited. When people pick up pre-filled bags of food, they’re also offered a Bible if they need one.

FYI

The Eastern Illinois Food Bank’s website is www.eifoodbank.org

Love INC’s site is www.loveincofvermilioncounty.org. Call the office at 442-LOVE (5683) between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays for referrals to resources.