“I’ve been doing this 14 years but this is the first year that people are calling me and saying they don’t have a can of food or anything in their homes,” Parsons said.

ATLANTA – Heather doesn’t live below the poverty line, but with three children to support, inflated prices and a husband serving in the military, she’s become part of a growing group of Americans struggling to make ends meet.

That’s why she turned to Warehouse of Hope for her groceries.

“It helped me tremendously,” Heather said. “Most of the stuff you receive from here… it’s stuff you can use on a daily basis.”

Heather is one of 1,350 families that visit the warehouse every week to fill their shopping bags with pickles, applesauce, water and other staples. Ninety percent of this food comes from Operation Blessing, delivered weekly to the Warehouse.

In fact, OBI’s Hunger Strike Force delivers over 2 million pounds of food and supplies each week to 110 community-based partners across the U.S., including Warehouse of Hope.

Every week, 1,350 families fill their shopping bags at the Warehouse. Ninety percent of this food comes from Operation Blessing.

“I firmly believe that without Operation Blessing, we wouldn’t be able to be here,” said Craig Parsons, Warehouse of Hope’s founder. “I mean there just wouldn’t be enough food... They count on this.”

Because of the current economic crisis, more families are looking to Parsons for help.

“I’ve been doing this now 14 years but this is actually the first year that people are… calling me and saying they don’t have a can of food, a box of food, or anything in their homes,” Parsons said.

In the past six months, he has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of families coming for groceries. Many of these recipients Parsons describes as the working poor, such as construction workers who have lost their jobs due to a slowing economy, and families like Heather’s who simply need a helping hand.

“Without their help… the prices of everything [are] going up,” Heather said. “You don’t really have the extra money, so it would be really hard.”

Help OBI and our partners continue to reach hungry families like Heather’s across America! A gift of $50 can help supply 2 families with food and relief for a month.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks are on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.

 

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