Raleigh food pantry seeks public's help filling empty shelves

Raleigh, N.C. — After last year’s tornadoes on April 16, the Salvation Army's Raleigh food pantry was so full the agency had to store items in another warehouse. It was a much different scene Friday morning.

Bare cupboards have replaced the fully-stocked pantry, and Salvation Army officials are asking for the public’s help.

“You walk in, and it’s empty,” said Haven Sink, director of public relations for the Salvation Army of Wake County. “In just a week or two’s time, these can go from full to completely empty.”

Hundreds of people count on the food pantry for their basic grocery needs each week. If more donations aren’t made, “we’ll have to cut our appointments at least in half for how many families we are able to help with food,” Sink said.

“Families just haven't been able to give as much as they normally have, and there are other families in need who were never in need before,” he added.

People donate a lot around the holidays, but those supplies usually run out within a few months. The need lasts all year.

“(It) takes a lot of food to feed 50 families each week,” Sink said. “That's not a luxury. That's a necessity.”

For information on donating money or non-perishable food, visit the Salvation Army's website.

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This s getting ridiculous. If the International Space Station fell on downtown Raleigh, some would swear that it was President Obamas fault. Some people need to move out of their moms basement and smell the Honeysuckle. Very little is the Presidents fault. The majority of the blame should go to Congress.

warbirdlover
April 27, 2012 6:58 p.m.

"ABO, sounds like a lame excuse to me and just a reason for you to complain."

Does not sound lame to me at all. I actually donate to the Salvation army on a monthly basis. I have had to cut that back by about a third this year mainly due to my own higher food costs and fuel costs. Unlike the Feds I can't hand out money that I do not actually have in my pocket.

whatelseisnew
April 27, 2012 6:16 p.m.

ABO, sounds like a lame excuse to me and just a reason for you to complain.

RWS
April 27, 2012 5:16 p.m.

And Michelle Obama spent taxpayers money for the tone of $470,000 to go with her kids to Spain a few months ago. I think the White House needs to look at the impact people who are hungry feel about this. Out of your own pocket is one thing out of the taxpayers pocket is a whole another ball game. Vote him out

orange17k2
April 27, 2012 5:12 p.m.

Tell the State to stop the frivolous trials and the constant battering about nepotism etc etc etc and the zillions on tests...Tell them to do something worthwhile.

BlahBlahBlahBlahBlah
April 27, 2012 4:58 p.m.