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More donations sought to help growing list of needy families
By Bobbie Whitehead
Food pantries and other charities in Western Tidewater say they still need more donations – both canned goods and money – to support the growing number of people seeking assistance during the holiday season.
With layoffs taking place in Franklin and tight times for residents in other parts of Western Tidewater, nonprofits like the Franklin Cooperative Ministries say people unable to pay utilities and those who are in emergency need are coming to them or being referred for help.
“We have clients every month who are having difficulties paying their bills with some seeking help with their utilities or mortgages,” said Veronica Ferguson, who manages the Franklin Cooperative Ministries, a nonprofit established by city churches.
Food pantries and other charities in Western Tidewater say they still need more donations – both canned goods and money – to support the growing number of people seeking assistance during the holiday season.
With layoffs taking place in Franklin and tight times for residents in other parts of Western Tidewater, nonprofits like the Franklin Cooperative Ministries say people unable to pay utilities and those who are in emergency need are coming to them or being referred for help.
“We have clients every month who are having difficulties paying their bills with some seeking help with their utilities or mortgages,” said Veronica Ferguson, who manages the Franklin Cooperative Ministries, a nonprofit established by city churches.
The cooperative serves residents in Southampton County, Franklin and portions of Isle of Wight County south of Route 460.
Ferguson said the cooperative is always in need of donations, both food and money, to assist residents, especially elderly residents who have limited income.
“We’re a nonprofit that helps if there is a true need; we’re the last stopping spot for people who can’t find help through other resources,” Ferguson said.
In Suffolk, The Salvation Army has begun serving more people this holiday season than it has in the past, according to Major Irene Clatterbuck, the corps officer for the Suffolk branch.
“We have over 1,000 families we are helping this year, and we are trying to provide a meal for Christmas for each family,” Clatterbuck said.
While The Salvation Army receives donations in a variety of forms, money helps the organization purchase the necessary food items.
“We have over 300 seniors this year, and we’re trying to provide them a whole baked chicken with all the trimmings, and for the families, we’re providing either a ham or a turkey with all the trimmings,” she said. “We’ve had schools collecting the canned foods, and The Salvation Army buys the meats.”
The Salvation Army will be giving out meals all this week and three days during the week of Christmas, Clatterbuck said.
“We’re really been amazed at the donations we’ve received this year, considering how things are,” she said. “We have doubled the amount of families we usually help, and we have over 3,000 children we are trying to help this year.”
Right now, the Suffolk Salvation Army has 179 families it has not put into the program because it just received those applications, she said.
“We are trying to see what we have left, if we can provide for these families,” Clatterbuck said.
After a recent burglary at the Salvation Army toy store, Clatterbuck said the organization needs toys for older children since the majority of items stolen were items for that age group.
The Food Bank of the Virginia Peninsula, which services Surry and several Peninsula counties as well as the cities of Williamsburg, Newport News and Hampton, has experienced an increase in the number of people seeking assistance.
“More working families, especially in the construction industry are seeking food,” said Kathleen Whitehead, capital campaign manager for the Food Bank of the Virginia Peninsula.
While the Food Bank needs more donations to help an increasing number of people, it also faces high freight costs to bring food to its facility, even though gas prices have dropped, Whitehead said.
To make donations to the Franklin Cooperative Ministries, call 516-6322 or visit the office at 511 N. Main Street in Franklin. The cooperative is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. On Fridays, the organization is open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. To help The Salvation Army, monetary donations can be made online at http://www.salvationarmy.usa.org or donors can mail a check to the office at 400 Bank St., Suffolk, Va. 23434. Also, contact the office at 757-539-5201 for information on other donations.
For more information on donating to the Food Bank of the Virginia Peninsula, call 757-596-7188.
Ferguson said the cooperative is always in need of donations, both food and money, to assist residents, especially elderly residents who have limited income.
“We’re a nonprofit that helps if there is a true need; we’re the last stopping spot for people who can’t find help through other resources,” Ferguson said.
In Suffolk, The Salvation Army has begun serving more people this holiday season than it has in the past, according to Major Irene Clatterbuck, the corps officer for the Suffolk branch.
“We have over 1,000 families we are helping this year, and we are trying to provide a meal for Christmas for each family,” Clatterbuck said.
While The Salvation Army receives donations in a variety of forms, money helps the organization purchase the necessary food items.
“We have over 300 seniors this year, and we’re trying to provide them a whole baked chicken with all the trimmings, and for the families, we’re providing either a ham or a turkey with all the trimmings,” she said. “We’ve had schools collecting the canned foods, and The Salvation Army buys the meats.”
The Salvation Army will be giving out meals all this week and three days during the week of Christmas, Clatterbuck said.
“We’re really been amazed at the donations we’ve received this year, considering how things are,” she said. “We have doubled the amount of families we usually help, and we have over 3,000 children we are trying to help this year.”
Right now, the Suffolk Salvation Army has 179 families it has not put into the program because it just received those applications, she said.
“We are trying to see what we have left, if we can provide for these families,” Clatterbuck said.
After a recent burglary at the Salvation Army toy store, Clatterbuck said the organization needs toys for older children since the majority of items stolen were items for that age group.
The Food Bank of the Virginia Peninsula, which services Surry and several Peninsula counties as well as the cities of Williamsburg, Newport News and Hampton, has experienced an increase in the number of people seeking assistance.
“More working families, especially in the construction industry are seeking food,” said Kathleen Whitehead, capital campaign manager for the Food Bank of the Virginia Peninsula.
While the Food Bank needs more donations to help an increasing number of people, it also faces high freight costs to bring food to its facility, even though gas prices have dropped, Whitehead said.
To make donations to the Franklin Cooperative Ministries, call 516-6322 or visit the office at 511 N. Main Street in Franklin. The cooperative is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. On Fridays, the organization is open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. To help The Salvation Army, monetary donations can be made online at http://www.salvationarmy.usa.org or donors can mail a check to the office at 400 Bank St., Suffolk, Va. 23434. Also, contact the office at 757-539-5201 for information on other donations.
For more information on donating to the Food Bank of the Virginia Peninsula, call 757-596-7188.
The Salvation Army like other organizations needs more donations.
