RELATED: Hunger increasing in Clark, Champaign counties
Recently more people have needed help getting by month to month, Assistant Director Tara Jordan said. That could be anything from a box of food from the food pantry to stretch a paycheck out or help with an electric bill.
“That’s what we’re here to do is fill the gap,” she said. “So they can keep their housing, so they can keep their electric on.”
The uptick may be caused by increased unemployment in Champaign County. The most recent unemployment data showed the rate from October 2016 was 4.2 percent, that’s up slightly from 3.7 percent at this time in 2015.
Almost 900,000 pounds of food were distributed in the county during fiscal year 2016 by the Second Harvest Food Bank, according to data from Ohio Food Banks.
It’s something that the head cook at the shelter, Tequina Clark, has noticed.
“A lot of people don’t have jobs or are relying on social security,” Clark said.
Clark has used services at the Caring Kitchen before, she said. She stayed at the shelter in 2010 with her two daughters. Workers at the shelter helped her to get a new place, she said, and when she needed help with clothes or food, she turned to the shelter again.
“I had to let my pride go and say, ‘You know what, I need help. I’m going to get help,’” she said. “And once I got the help, my life changed forever.”
She’s proof the shelter can change lives, she said. It helped her get on her feet.
Students at Urbana High School want to support those in need, Junior Erin Stollings said.
The fine arts students organized an art sale for today and canned food drive to benefit the Caring Kitchen, she said. The school’s band and choir will perform their normal concert that evening at 7 p.m., she said, but attendees will be able to buy artwork created by students as well as make donations.
“It’s a great way to just help out the community,” Stollings said. “Most of us, even students here, have volunteered at the Caring Kitchen.”
Stollings, who’s involved in art, band and choir, said she’s glad her fellow students want to give back.
“It’s OK to admit that we all need a little bit of help sometimes,” she said. “And I think that’s why a lot of us were really interested in it.”
There’s no other place in the county to get the services that Caring Kitchen provides, Clark said.
“We know that we can come here and get fed,” she said. “We know that they’re going to be there for us.”
The shelter is grateful for any help the students can provide, Jordan said.
“Just to get out and put our name out there is great,” she said.
Most of the artwork will be sold for $5 to $10, Stollings said. The sale will be held in gym lobby.
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