ROCKLAND, Maine — Despite reports that the economy has improved, the Area Interfaith Outreach food pantry is seeing a dramatic increase in demand.
The pantry, which is supported by numerous churches, gave out 20,717 pounds of food in October — more than double the 8,828 pounds given out the same month a year earlier, according to Sherry Cobb, president of the pantry’s board of directors.
The percentage increases also are similar for other forms of assistance given out by Area Interfaith Outreach. In October 2013, the organization paid a little more than $6,000 for heating oil for 37 families. But by October 2014, the organization already dished out a little more than $10,000 to 176 families, according to Cobb.
Payments to Central Maine Power for people in need jumped from less than $3,000 for 20 families to nearly $6,200 for 89 families, she said, and rent payments jumped from $1,160 for seven families to $5,255 for 52 families.
Cobb said that despite claims that unemployment figures are a sign of an improved economy, those numbers mask the fact that wages for many people have gone down since the Great Recession struck in 2008.
The Maine Department of Labor reported the unemployment rate for Knox County in October was 4.7 percent, less than the statewide average of 5.1 percent. The state department reported that 970 people were unemployed with 19,800 Knox County residents employed.
But Cobb countered, arguing the numbers don’t show that many people are working part-time jobs that pay little.
At the same time, government assistance has declined, the nonprofit volunteer service provider president said.
“People are making decisions on whether to pay their rent or buy food,” Cobb said.
Area Interfaith Outreach’s board consists of 12 local churches, but Cobb said other churches that don’t have representation on the board also donate to the organization.
The food pantry is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to noon at its building at 70 Thomaston St., the entrance to Rockland’s Industrial Park.
Cobb said in the past few years, even during the recession, an average of 25 families daily would come in to get food.
“Thirty would be considered high. During the past six months, even in the summer, we were pushing 50 families a day. Now we’re up to 60,” she said.
She said the lines now go out to the parking lot.
Many who use the food pantry are working people, she said.
Cobb said the belief of some that a lot of recipients are trying to abuse the system contrasts with with reality.
“Most of the people who come here would rather die than be seen. They are embarrassed to be here,” she said.
The Area Interfaith Outreach pantry is part of the Good Shepherd Food Bank network, which is the clearinghouse for many food pantries around the state. A study by Good Shepherd Food Bank, titled “Feeding America, Hunger in Maine 2014,” found that one in seven Mainers, or an estimated 178,000 people, turned to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families during the survey period October 2012 to August 2013.
Good Shepherd will be bringing a mobile food truck to the Area Interfaith Outreach parking lot on Dec. 9. That truck will have enough food for 300 families. Area Interfaith Outreach serves Knox County and also will accept residents from Waldoboro and Lincolnville because they are part of Knox County school districts.
Cobb said she expects the truck will run out of food before everyone is served.