Identification To Be Required For Food Express Truck
By Kristen Johnson kajohnson@post-journal.comIt's no secret that the economic downturn has hit families everywhere hard.
It has hit so hard, in fact, that food pantries across Western New York have begun following new rules that stipulate to whom food can be given.
''We'll never turn anybody away,'' said MaryLou Borowiak, the president and CEO of Food Bank of Western New York. ''But we do need to control how our product is given out. We need to ensure we're taking care of those most in need and we've revised some of our procedures to make sure we're doing just that.''
In an e-mail to The Post-Journal, Linda Whiteley, director of the Ashville Food Pantry, said the Food Bank's Food Express truck would be coming to the Ashville Food Pantry on Tuesday. But due to the economy and a lack of donations to the Food Bank of Western New York, Whiteley said, ''we can no longer service families outside our area.''
''What we've had to do is find ways to control how our product is given out,'' Ms. Borowiak said.
''We must make sure we're taking care of the less fortunate. Now, if someone approaches the Food Express Truck, our volunteers will be asking for identification to ensure that person lives within the ZIP codes served by that particular truck. We've implemented this across the board.''
By implementing the new policy, Ms. Borowiak said Food Bank officials hope to prevent people from ''going to six different stops and getting served at all of them.''
''As an example, I was working in Salamanca one day and a woman came to the truck's first stop so we helped her out,'' Ms. Borowiak said. ''She picked up food for a couple of households but then showed up at a second stop and said she was picking up food for someone else. We can't have that. We need to make sure the people most in need are getting the food.''
Ms. Borowiak said those who approach Food Express Trucks will need to furnish identification - such as a driver's license - that lists their name, street address and ZIP code, along with a utility bill.
''We actually have people following the trucks,'' she said. ''We'll have a truck in Lockport and people from Buffalo call to ask where the truck is. It's the exception and not the rule, but we still have an obligation to address that. We certainly will not turn anyone away the first time, but the second time they'll need to bring identification and a utility bill.''
Those who approach the Food Express trucks will be assigned to a certain pickup location, Ms. Borowiak said.
''We recognize that we don't serve some ZIP codes, but we also recognize that we have multiple pickup spots in others,'' she said. ''For those in a ZIP code we don't serve, we want them to have a location where they can go and get the food they need. For those in ZIP codes with multiple pickup locations, we want folks assigned to a certain location so they're not making multiple pickups.''
The new policy is especially important, Ms. Borowiak said, when one considers the increased need food pantries are trying to fulfill. She said need in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie and Niagara counties - the counties served by Food Bank of Western New York - is up at least 11 percent and still rising.
''We're seeing a lot of the working poor and people who have been employed at one place for years but who have been laid off and can't get a new job,'' she said. ''Of the people we serve, 39 percent are children and 11 percent are senior citizens. Ninety-six thousand people rely on us each month. With so many people and dwindling contributions, we've got to be especially careful.''
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greenpanther
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10-04-09 9:40 PM
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By implementing the new policy, Ms. Borowiak said Food Bank officials hope to prevent people from 'going to six different stops and getting served at all of them.' 'As an example, I was working in Salamanca one day and a woman came to the truck's first stop so we helped her out,' Ms. Borowiak said. 'She picked up food for a couple of households but then showed up at a second stop and said she was picking up food for someone else. We can't have that. We need to make sure the people most in need are getting the food.' Hey Mary Lou, it is true that some individuals do pick up food for others who are shut inns or have no transportation, and are not trying to hoard food. I have donated my time to assist the people being served by the pantries. This should make one stop and think, that if one is trying to take advantage of the system and get extra food, they must need it. I have seen what the pantries give to families, and I sure would hate to try and live a week off it!
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Fagerstrom
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10-04-09 6:02 AM
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It's sad, but you are always going to find a few individuals you are trying to assist who will take advantage of the system. Perhaps this new directive will ensure everyone who needs help, gets that help. Great job WNY and Ashville Food Banks. Thank You.
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