When the doors open at Heartland Hope Mission, the first thing you notice is the carts and shelves stocked full with food. Individuals walk down aisles of canned goods, pasta and produce, choosing what they need to get through the week.
It’s not a grocery store; it is a pantry, located in the heart of the country. And for many who walk in, especially as SNAP benefits are delayed, it can be the difference between a full dinner and an empty fridge.
Demand surges at local food pantries
This past weekend, the pantry witnessed something that staff have been experiencing more frequently.
“Our numbers had been up 30% because of the shutdown, but this past Saturday, we served double the number of people,” said Chelsea Salifou, CEO of Heartland Hope Mission…