Help Center struggling, but blessed

BY MARCELLE HANEMANN
The Daily News
Published/Last Modified on Friday, November 20, 2009 1:11 PM CST


The number of applicants for assistance from the Bogalusa Help Center food bank has likely doubled from 3,100 families in 2006 to an estimated 6200 families in 2009, Volunteer President Gene Hayman said Thursday.

“We are presently giving boxes to 530 families each month,” he said. “That’s over 800 hungry mouths.”

The Center serves people from throughout Washington Parish.

Advertisement
Most recipient families have monthly incomes of less than $900, they are elderly, and have health problems or disabilities, said Hayman. Others are young families that are “struggling to get by,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s hard to see just how they make it, so we are thankful we can help as much as we can,” said Hayman.

The “difficult economic times” have not only impacted the Help Center by prompting “tremendous growth” in the ranks of those who need its assistance, they’ve affected donors and caused grocery prices to “hit the roof,” said Hayman.

So far this year, the Center has had to dip deep into its dwindling savings to pay more than $10,000 of expenses and uncovered grocery costs. Its total food cost was $62,000, he said.

November and December are traditionally high application months, and while the 4-H, Back on Track, Franklinton and Denhamtown elementary schools, Annunciation Catholic School and others are having benefit food drives, the already great need is growing, said Hayman.

He encourages everyone to donate food or funding for food so truly needy local residents will have enough to eat through the holidays and beyond.

“We are blessed to be able to take care of them,” said Hayman. “And we will do as much as we can as long as we can for as many as we can.”

 

Comments

    Reader Comments

    The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of downtownnews.com.

    Submit a Comment

    We encourage your feedback and dialogue. All comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
    (optional)
       

Write a Comment

Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. The Daily News is not liable for messages from third parties.



DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.

Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in gobogalusa.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Daily News. The Daily News does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Daily News spokespersons.

Thank you for your comments!

Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of downtownnews.com.

Submit a Comment

We encourage your feedback and dialogue. All comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
(optional)
   

Multimedia


Raw video: Fair Parade

Thousands watched on as the 96th annual Washington Parish Fair Parade rolled through the streets of Franklinton Wednesday morning.


Click here for all videos

Contact Us




Make Us Your Homepage

Advertisement