Brandon Twp.- Soaring gasoline prices and a sour economy has led to a 24-percent increase in the number of families visiting the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund food pantry this year.
Judy Henley, service coordinator for OCEF, believes the higher number in need will translate to more requests for help as the holiday season approaches. OCEF is currently seeking businesses, merchants, community service organizations and individuals in the community to assist OCEF in giving needy families Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, as well as toys for children at Christmas.
As of mid-October, more than 60 families had signed up for assistance and Henley expected at least 150 families within the Brandon School District to need help for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
‘According to the numbers we’ve seen in the pantry, it’s likely to be more,? Henley said. ‘For people who are living on a tight budget, the increase in gas has really cost them. With the projected increase of heat this winter, people are really worried.?
Natural gas prices are expected to increase about 50 percent this winter.
Henley notes she has seen people who have been laid-off from their jobs and can’t find work or have seen a decrease in the number of hours they are working.
‘It scares me,? she says. ‘I think it may also be harder for people to donate.?
Henley is always impressed, however, with the generosity of the Ortonville community and she is grateful for the volunteers OCEF has every year. She is putting together the Thanksgiving Food Distribution and Christmas Food and Toy Distribution efforts and is hoping once again for a great response. OCEF needs volunteers, food collection sites, ‘OCEF Toy Store? donations and collection sites, people to adopt a family and cash contributions, which will also be accepted for St. Anne’s Care and Share Fund, which helps to cover utility bills for families in need.
Henley says that families whom OCEF assists are always grateful and she notes that two families helped in the past who have turned things around even made large donations this year– one of new toys and the other a large food donation.
‘The families try the best they can to give back,? Henley said. ‘They are always so grateful. We all live closer to the edge than we’d like to think. You never know when you’ll need help.?
Families in need of help or those wishing to help can contact Judy Henley at (248) 627-3965.