Members of Conduit Ministries package hot meals June 2, at Brooklyn Square as part of the church’s Food Truck program which runs each Sunday from 3 – 4 p.m. The church is attempting to alleviate some of the food insecurities people are facing in the Jamestown area. Several food pantries, churches and non-for-profits are reporting dwindling food stores as greater demand for food assistance has sacked much of their supplies. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

Charitable organizations report they are struggling to meet the community’s needs as too many people find themselves without the food they need to feed their families.

Earlier this year, the Map the Meal Gap study found food insecurity is at its highest level in the past 20 years. Area food pantry directors say their shelves are nearly empty as they struggle to help the families who are reaching out to them.

“People are hungry, and we’ve had two record breaking days feeding people in the last two months,” said Cherie Rowland, executive director of the St. Susan Center in Jamestown.

Rowland said that the growing number of individuals seeking substance support is not just homeless or the unhoused anymore, but families and children are starting to account for larger numbers of those seeking help. The center is reporting that food insecurity is at an all-time high in our region, and because of the unusually high-demand for assistance from churches and non-for-profit who have organic food pantries have all but become barren.

“We’re seeing a growing number of kids and families who are now coming for a meal at the center,” said Rowland. “Last month we had a record breaking day, we served 287 meals, and on July 23 we served 264 unique individuals. It looks like we are projected to serve 60,000 meals this year; the largest year we had for serving meals is 2020 where we served 62,000 meals -coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Rowland is not alone in her thoughts regarding the demographics of those faced with food insecurities.

“We’re seeing more and more families and children coming through our food truck line,” said Molly Cummings, Conduit Ministries Food Truck leader. “When we talk with people in line waiting for food, some of the kids are telling us that they mainly get their food from their schools, during the school year -and they are just hungry.

As inflation has skyrocketed in the U.S., many of those who are financially challenged are having their dollars stretched thinner and thinner. More and more dollars are chasing after less and less products. The result of this hyper-inflation is a strangle hold placed on those who are under or barely above the minimum-wage levels, according to a New York Time news story.

‘STRUGGLING AND HURTING’

“I barely make more than minimum-wage,” said Hector Raymond-Lopez of Jamestown. “I have a wife and three children. We spent $250 at the grocery store the other day- we got four bags of food. …Four bags of food for a family of our size doesn’t last long. Thank you Jesus and Mary, for the churches in the area that help us out.”

In Chautauqua County there are over 40 hunger relief organizations that they partner with, such as food pantries, soup kitchens and schools. Shick said that not only have they seen the numbers of those in need increase from 2021 to 2022, but FeedMore has also seen an increase in their data of 24% from 2022 to 2023.

“Right now, as I’m talking to you, there’s three kids from the neighborhood that came to the church to get some food and to play,” said the Rev. Dodi McIntyre, the lead pastor of Joy Fellowship Free Methodist Church in Jamestown. “We have a small, but in-house food pantry we use to help feed members of our community and neighborhood. However, the demand is increasing, and our stored goods cannot keep up with the demand. People are struggling and hurting.”

In a May 2024 Post-Journal article the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, leadership headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, donated more than 40,000 pounds worth of dry goods stores to the St. Susan Center. However, according to Rowland, the gift has been used to feed and support the area’s hungry and other non-profits whose food pantries were running low with provisions at the time.

“We have given more than 10,000 pounds of dry goods to eight various food pantries in the area and more than 16,000 (pounds) to Feed More Western New York,” she said. “We have also received a record-breaking donation from the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities this year. For the last 25 years, the BPU has supported St. Susan Center, and this year’s donation totaled $35,401.37 compared to last year’s donation of $32,508. This accounts for one-third of our event budget. More than 48 businesses supported our drive, and the BPU donated a record-breaking $1,313 from hot dog sales for their employee’s lunch breaks. More than $30,000 came from direct sponsors and individuals who support our work- all used locally.”

Rowland spoke about the results of a recent survey conducted by her organization and what that means for the area.

“Nearly 65 percent of our guests eat only one meal a day, which is provided by us,” she said. “More than a quarter of our guests are couples or part of a larger family, and most of our guests walk one mile or longer to get to the center. We are seeing more and more people coming from farther away – to eat just one meal.”

One of the local food pantries who have required assistance from the St. Susan Center is the local chapter of the Salvation Army located at 83 South Main St.

“We have a once a month food program where we give out a three to five day supply of groceries,” said Elizabeth Margarito of the Jamestown Salvation Army. “We served 80 individuals and families on Monday, and once a month we have our Food Express Program which provides emergency provisions like canned goods to help people get through rough patches, and we passed out 253 packages for that. Our supplies cannot keep up with the demand. The St. Susan Center stepped in and helped us restock our dry goods and food pantry items.”

“We have our summer and after school meal programs,” said John Barber, the interim chief executive officer for the Jamestown Area YMCA. “Kids, traditionally, around here, have food insecurities during the summer months and right after scheduled school activities.”

Luke Miller the associate pastor at Conduit Ministries added. “Every Sunday, we have a free, open to the public, give-away of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables which is part of our church’s Abundance Market,” he said. “You don’t have to attend church here, just come by and grab what you want and need.”

SNAP REQUESTS AREN’T INCREASING

According to Carmelo Hernandez, Chautauqua County director of community mental hygiene services, the numbers of individuals requesting assistance using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have remained consistent for the past year. Since January 2023, the number of county residents receiving SNAP benefits has ranged from 11,392 to 11,810.

“While Chautauqua County is not experiencing a significant rise in SNAP applications or usage so far this year, the increased demand for food pantry and soup kitchen services may be due to families needing periodic additional support,” said Hernandez. “I want to reassure our community that there is no shame in using these resources–they are here to help you. In tough economic times like these, it is perfectly okay to seek extra support. That is why these services exist. … I want to express our deepest gratitude to the food pantries, their generous donors, and the dedicated volunteers who make these vital services possible.”

Those who need to apply for Social Services can call 716-661-8200 or apply online at myBenefits.ny.gov. In most cases a phone interview can be done.

COMPLICATING FACTOR

City officials asked in a news release Thursday that Jamestown residents who want to help the hungry to donate to organizations like the St. Susan Center, the Salvation Army or churches who both help with food but also direct those getting help to programs that can help.

Cameron Lienhart, Conduit Ministries lead pastor, said in a Facebook post that his church will continue with its free community meals at its food truck in Brooklyn Square on Sundays.

“The very intended consequence of feeding people from a place of compassion is that you look, love, and serve a lot like Jesus did. And while there are some that may choose to believe that feeding the hungry limits their self-sufficiency,” Lienhart said. “I do not. No act of love is ever wasted. We will continue to feed people in the Jamestown and regional area as much as we have resources to do so. Currently we offer hot meals on Sunday afternoons in Brooklyn Square at our food truck starting at 3 p.m. until gone. Wednesday evenings from 5:30-6:30 p.m. we are in a different town park to serve a meal to anyone that needs one (7/31 we are at Appleyard Terrace).”