Food Banks Seek Extra Donations While Supplies Dwindle

Across the Piedmont, agencies that provide emergency food assistance are struggling to keep their pantries full.

The Greensboro Urban Ministry serves the greater Greensboro area. Each month, volunteers distribute 100,000 pounds of food to people in need. But executive director Reverend Mike Aiken says the food bank is running out of supplies. A recent fundraiser only pulled in about 13,000 pounds of food. Aiken says the economy is still down and recent budget cuts at the state level and at the federal level are hurting organizations like his. “And it seems like most government programs have not expanded to help many of the people who are poor. When they limit unemployment benefits, limit the time for extended unemployment, not accepting Medicaid and those kinds of issues...[it] puts extra pressure on the people who we serve.”

During the week, the Greensboro Urban Ministry gives bags of food to about 80 families a day. It also feeds around 600 people a day through its Potter's House Community Kitchen.