BELLEVILLE, Ill. — As COVID-19 keeps families at home and out of work, a growing number of people are turning to local food pantries.
"We're getting a lot of new families and normally we'll average about 90 new families a month and we're on a pretty good slope, it might be as much as 130 this month," said executive director Michael Foppe.
Because of this, volunteers at the Interfaith Food Pantry in Belleville are hard at work.
Many of the volunteers around around the age of 75.
Many of them, risking personal safety, to keep up with the growing need in their community.
Thursday volunteers issued a call for help as COVID- 19 put more people on hard times.
"People who are out of work right now, they can't go to work so they need some assistance," Foppe said.
The shelves are being cleared due to how much assistance is needed.
In normal circumstances, volunteers would replenish their supply at grocery stores, but because of "pandemic panic" they can no longer buy in bulk.
One of the first to answer the plea, Belleville first responders.
"It feeds our community and that's what we're here to do, we serve our community just like they do," said Belleville firefighter Raymond Winchester.
Because for these volunteers, the only thing about tough times that last are the people.
"We want to say, 'thank you very much' for everything that we get right now and we would give you a big hug, but we're not doing that right now," said volunteer Linda kinnep.
For information on how you can donate visit the pantry's Facebook page or call 618-355-9199, or visit its website at www.feedbelleville.org.
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