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With Thanksgiving approaching, need is great at local food banks

At the Worcester County Food Bank, Eileen Cote covers the weekly food supply for Jeremiah’s Inn, a food pantry and nutrition center in Worcester.

Eileen and her team come to Shrewsbury every Monday to pick up food to be distributed.

“Sometimes we run out of food. We have to try to expand as much as we can. Sometimes we have to close earlier because we don’t have enough food. But we always make it there for everyone so we can feed as many families as possible,” Eileen Cote said.

Jerimiah’s Inn is one of 98 food pantries that the Worcester County Food Bank supplies in Worcester County.

CEO Jean McMurray told me the numbers show more and more people are struggling.

The Worcester County Food Bank will help feed approximately 950 thousand people this year; This number was 880 thousand the previous year.

Some of the increase is due to SNAP benefits being threatened during the recent federal government shutdown, but not all of it.

“Everyone is faced with these impossible choices: Do I buy food or do I pay my rent? Or do I pay for medications or do I pay to get my car fixed because I need my car to get to work,” McMurray said.

Meanwhile, ordinary people are stepping up to help.

“Fred Turkey” delivered a large check from Juniper Hill Golf Course to help pay for Thanksgiving dinners, and Nikki Davis dropped off donated items at a food drive she and three other stylists hosted at the 574 Chair and Suite Salon in Worcester.

“We know there are a lot of people who need help. We work hard and still need help. We’re probably one illness or one accident because we all need some help,” said Nikki Davis.