KOSA CBS 7- Influx of Job-Seekers Add to Food Bank Crisis, Big Spring Pantry Shuts Doors

Shelley Childers
schilders@cbs7.com
CBS 7 News
August 23, 2011

Odessa, TX – "It's hard to see the problem because we have such a booming economy," explained Paige Phelps, Marketing Director for the West Texas Food Bank.

Our low unemployment rate and booming development are overshadowing the hunger problem that is also booming in West Texas.

After watching CBS 7’s original story about the severe food shortage at the West Texas Food Bank, Chuck Sturgeon generously donated more than $11,000 for half a truck of chicken.

Estell Patin, a client of the food bank, couldn't be happier to hear the news, "It's very important, it helps a lot of people really," but she is not alone.

"If we can start this, and make those people stronger, then I think it will help us out here, we are in good economic times now and it's time to build our team," Chuck said.

Good economic times in West Texas means people are following the money trail, flocking in from all over the state and country, hoping oil and gas will turn their luck around.

"And they're coming on their last dime and there's not a lot of housing and housing is expensive and once they get here they have to get the job and that could take a month or more to get the job and get the first pay check," said Paige Phelps, Marketing Director for the West Texas Food Bank.

Now this massive influx of people, with nothing left in their pockets, are relying on the West Texas Food Bank while they wait for their fortunes to turn.

"This is really a strange situation where there's a lot of work to be had, but you have to remember that a lot of the positions that are open probably won't feed a family," Phelps said.

The impact couldn't be felt harder than in Big Spring where Isiah 58 Food Pantry had to shut down recently because they simply ran out of food to give.

The director of Isiah 58 Food Pantry says they served more than 1,160 clients in the first three weeks of July and had to close for the last week.

"It's hundreds and hundreds of people and it's more than they're used to, and when you're a tiny church pantry it's almost impossible to deal with that kind of influx," Phelps explained.

While the chicken donation will go far for the food bank, whose freezer is empty of meat and fresh produce, clients like Estell need the community’s help more than ever.

"And I don't want to be starving anymore, I really don't."

"We're not a hand out, we're a hand up and we can help people, we can get them back on their feet, we can get them to that first paycheck and we can get this community really, really strong," Phelps said.

Chuck Sturgeon's donation was matched by an anonymous donor, now a truck of chicken totaling 42,000 lbs., will be delivered tomorrow morning.

The chicken will last the food bank about two weeks and feed 30,000 people.

If you would like to donate to the West Texas Food Bank you can do so by mailing a check to:

1008 E. 2nd Street
P.O. Box 4242
Odessa, Texas, 79761.

Make the check payable to the West Texas Food Bank.