Good Samaritan Association cupboard near bare

Cathy Miller stands in front of Good Samaritan's stock of green beans. Other than the beans, Good Sam is in dire need of canned goods as a result of the much higher-than-usual traffic that is seeking help from the agency. (T-G Photo by Tamara Belinc) [Order this photo]

Cathy Miller didn't think things could get any worse for Good Samaritan than last year, but the dwindling economy has left more families than ever seeking help from the agency -- and Miller is concerned they're going to run out of food.

"We are feeding about 930 people a month," said Miller, director of the local Good Samaritan. "We are lower (in food) now than we were last year at this time."

Last month, Good Samaritan gave out 326 boxes of food. Last year at this time, they were averaging about 200 boxes a month and the year before that the average was less than 100 boxes leaving the building each month.

While they're fully stocked with green beans, Miller said they need just about everything else, especially items that contain meat. Additionally, Miller said peanut butter, tuna fish, soup, macaroni and cheese, crackers, mixed vegetables, carrots, beans (white, pinto, kidney, etc.), and pork and beans are greatly needed.

Miller said she sees a lot of families moving in together to consolidate rent and bills.

Each December, Shelbyville Central High School holds a large canned food drive that typically carries Good Samaritan through much of the year, in addition to a large number of donations that come in around the holidays. Central, Good Samaritan's largest source of donations, turned in 33,000 items from the drive.

This number was actually down from about 50,000 items donated two years before by Central, according to former student council president Micky Pietkiewicz. As a result of the economy, students had a harder time collecting items last year, indicating the more people are in need, the less people are able to give.

Typically, Central's food drive carries Good Samaritan through the almost the end of the year, but Miller is worried that are going to run out of food before Central's next food drive.

"Maybe we can have Christmas in July this year," she said.

With Sanford closing toward the end of summer, Miller expects the traffic at Good Samaritan to increase even more.

What you can do

To donated canned items, visit Good Samaritan at 201 E. Highland St. For more information, call 684-8160.