The need at the local food pantry in Jefferson keeps setting record highs.

Greene County Action Resource Center (ARC) Manager Shirley Haupert says two years ago, the weekly number of households served at the food pantry were in the 20s, then last year that number grew to the 30s. She points out that since this past June, the weekly household numbers are now between 40 and 45.

“To explain a little bit more about the families, this isn’t just one to two persons these are now, we’re seeing a lot more kids. For example, a year ago in July we had 112 kids, because we keep track of 0-18 (years old), this year we had 163. So in other words, we helped 55 more kids that month (in July 2024). And every month we’re seeing more and more kids.”  

Haupert suspects some of the reasons for the dramatic increase includes the Tyson plant closure in Perry, as well as the cost of everything with food, utilities, gasoline are constantly going up, while their clients’ wages are not staying with those raising costs for necessities. She adds that people can donate any type of food on Wednesday mornings, as well as contacting ARC at 515-386-8262 to arrange a time to drop off food to ensure someone is there to receive it. People can also make a monetary donation and drop that off at their mailbox.