Hard Times For Charities

Two-thousand turkeys are loaded up for charities to distribute across the Gulf Coast. It's enough food to feed 16,000 people, but that only meets 30% of the need.

While more families are falling on hard times, the charities they turn to for help are too.

"Not only do you have new people coming to seek help, you have less money being donated to provide the help," says Dave Reaney, Director of the Bay Area Food Bank. Reaney says agencies requested 6,000 turkeys this year, but they were only able to supply about a third.

Pam Dobbs, who runs a non-profit organization in Wiggins, Mississippi, picked up 16 turkeys at the food bank, but she'll have to be creative deciding who in her community gets them.

"We're trying to figure out a way to distribute them," says Dobbs. "Maybe putting their names in a bowl and drawing names or something like that."

The Bay Area Food Bank relies heavily on donations from national manufacturers like Tyson, Con Agra and Kimberly Clark, but those donations are down 26% this year, which equals about one million pounds of food, or 700,000 meals, for the Theodore facility.

"All those national donors are very generous, says Reaney. "But, at the same time they are businesses, and they're feeling the effects of the recession on their bottom lines.

Reaney says his food bank is now looking for more local doners to close the gap. Anyone who wants to help the Bay Area Food Bank can sponsor a food or fund drive. With $130, the food bank can buy 38,000 pounds of food.

For more information visit the Bay Area Food Bank website: www.bayareafoodbank.org or call 251-653-1617