City Outreach Ministries in dire need of food donations

In little more than a month, on Nov. 21, City Outreach Ministries will open its doors for their annual Thanksgiving dinner. Those who come for the community meal usually leave with boxes full of more food for their own Thanksgiving dinner the next week, including hams or turkeys.

This year, however, there is a problem.

Scott Horn, the pastor, stands in the warehouse, surrounded by empty pallets and boxes.

"We need help, we need help, we need help," he said. "We've got a couple of pallets of food and that's all."

Every year, the ministry provides a full-blown Thanksgiving meal for those in need, with members of the congregation and local police officers, judges and business people helping serve. As the diners leave, the boxes with canned foods, nonperishable items, bread, fruit and, when they've been lucky, turkeys, are loaded into their cars. The food is either donated or has been purchased with donated money.

This year, because so many people are out of work and so many businesses are closing, downsizing or tightening their own budgets, those donations aren't coming in.

This year, because so many people are out of work and so many businesses are closing, downsizing or tightening their own budgets, those donations are needed more than ever.

"There are people losing jobs, losing their houses. We've seen people down here we never thought we'd see," said Horn. "There's only so many we can serve."

The ministry provides food and assistance throughout the year, and whenever donations come in, he calls those on his list to come pick up what he has for them. More names are being added to that list all the time, he said, names of people who a year ago would never have needed help.

There are already several boxes of the non-perishable food items taped up and ready to go at the Thanksgiving dinner, but there aren't enough, he said.

"And I'm afraid that's all we're going to have for them. I don't know how many more we can make up."

City Outreach serves from 300 to 500 people a week, and the numbers have risen to 4,500 a month at times, he said. Unlike many help agencies, the church doesn't require income statements or other proof of need from those coming to them.

"A lot of people don't qualify for food stamps, but they still need food," said Horn. "And some of these people do get food stamps, but that doesn't help with things like toilet paper or paper towels.

"It's a blessing to be able to give this stuff."

Last year the ministry served 1,200 people Thanksgiving dinner, then signed them up for the Christmas giveaway in December. That, too, looks lean this year. Horn is hoping some school groups will get interested and have toy drives for the event, which would be a poetic sort of justice. Most of the new jackets and shoes left over from last year's giveaway went to the schools, who then distributed them to children in need.

The ministry needs canned foods and other nonperishable items, as well as things like toilet paper and paper towels. Cash donations will be used to purchase the nonperishable items and other things needed for the Thanksgiving boxes.

How to help

For more information or to make a donation, call Scott Horn at 684-9984.