Pittsburg: Food Banks Prep for Fuel Cost Increases

By KYW's Lynne Adkins

Food banks are taking steps to serve an anticipated flood of needy residents this winter because of the high cost of heating homes.

A Pittsburgh-area food bank is stocking up on extra supplies. Philadelphia-area food bank officials are also concerned, but say they're prepared.

The cost of heating oil and natural gas are high and expected to remain high through the winter.

Joan Mentz Olmer, director of resource development at the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank, says the poor face the same dilemma every year: Should they pay for heat or for food?

She says her organization has been seeking more donations in the past year to keep up with demand:

"It goes to charities all over Pennsyvlvania: soup kitchens, senior centers, shelters, daycares; any service organization that feeds needy people."

Olmer expects her group to feed more than a million people this winter. She admits there could be more because of heating costs, but she says the food bank is prepared.

http://www2.kyw1060.com/news_story_detail.cfm?newsitemid=9234

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), September 26, 2000

Answers

With all these stories of misery we are hearing these days, about energy shortages, it is a miracle that the Consumer Confidence Index keeps going up.

Why?

-- Uncle Fred (dogboy45@bigfoot.com), September 26, 2000.