Food pantries make request following benefit endings

PEORIA (25 News Now) - Food pantries and food banks in Peoria have asked for additional support after additional SNAP benefits ran out in February.

Peoria Area Food Bank manager Wayne cannon says there is enough food to feed the hungry people in our communities. However, storage and volunteers are needed more now than ever before.

“Our pantries are anticipating an influx of folks coming to them at the end of the month,” said Cannon. “The problem is, how do we get the food from the landfill and from the stores just in time before it spoils in individuals’ homes?”

According to Feeding America, one-third of all food produced in the U.S. has ended up in landfills, with many of those packages unopened.

Hidden Manna food pantry said that the donations they receive don’t sit on the shelves long. They’re out the door as soon as they arrive, which has shown the need for more food and volunteers.

“They can just show up at the door,” said manager Judy Ummel. “The pantry isn’t what they think it is. They have a preconceived notion of what a food pantry does or what it’s like. Maybe it’ll fit them or maybe it won’t, but come give it a try.”

The Peoria Area Food Bank said they encourage those wishing to volunteer to start locally at their neighborhood pantry.

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