In the heart of Kingston, Pennsylvania, a dedicated team of volunteers is working tirelessly to ensure that families in need have access to the food they require. Despite the abundance of willing hands, the food pantry they serve is facing a critical shortage, forcing them to make difficult decisions about how to distribute their limited resources.

Tackling the Hunger Crisis Head-On

A Surge in Demand, a Strain on Supplies

The Kraus Chaiken Food Pantry at the Friedman JCC in Kingston has been a beacon of hope for the community for nearly three decades. Each week, volunteers prepare hundreds of bags filled with essential food items, ready to be distributed to families across the valley. However, the recent surge in demand has put a significant strain on the pantry's resources."I think the cost of food has gone way up. People are debating if they can buy their medication, food, how they can pay the rent, how they can survive, and we want to help," explains Barbara Sugarman, the food pantry supervisor.

Scaling Back to Meet the Need

The lack of donations and the growing line of cars at the pantry's distribution days have forced the organization to make tough decisions. They have had to scale back the frequency of free food pickups, from weekly to twice a month, and reduce the amount of food they can provide to each family."We would fill the bag according to the need of family members. We can't do that anymore, we just can't," laments volunteer Patty Kopec.

Facing an Uncertain Future

As the demand for their services continues to rise, the food pantry's volunteers are left wondering how long they can sustain their operations. "How high are the numbers actually going to go? How high can we keep feeding people at those numbers?" Kopec asks, her voice tinged with concern.The reality is that the pantry is now forced to give families just enough to get by, rather than filling their fridges as they once did. "We know that they're out there and we know that people, they're getting this. It's a help, but it's not going to help solve their problem of more food that they need," Kopec acknowledges.

A Plea for Donations

Despite the challenges, the volunteers at the Kraus Chaiken Food Pantry remain committed to their mission. They continue to hand out what they can, but they know that donations are desperately needed to keep their shelves stocked."If you look around your house and what you use every day, that's what we need. Peanut butter, jelly, cereals, toilet paper, Kleenex, toothbrushes," Sugarman emphasizes.The group stresses the importance of having a steady stream of donations, not just during the holiday season, but throughout the year. They hope that the community will heed their call and help them continue to serve those in need.