Food Resources cupboard no longer bare

November 29, 1996

By BRENDAN KIRBY

Staff Writer

Washington County residents have rushed to fill the Food Resources Inc. cupboard.

A week after word that a holiday food drive was running far behind projections, gifts of cash and food have flooded the nonprofit food bank that sponsors the drive.

Jim Mobley, executive director of Food Resources, said he has received 11,000 pounds of food in the past week, bringing the total collected to 23,500 pounds.

That is still short of the minimum goal of 30,000 pounds, but Mobley said it ensures that the dozens of food pantries and charities the food bank serves throughout the Tri-State area will receive food bags.

"We've been able to meet the requirements," Mobley said. "We have had to cut back a little bit, but everybody will get something."

Mobley said charities will get about 90 percent of the food they were promised. He said Food Resources received both food and cash, which the agency can use to buy food.

The Bags of Plenty food drive, which began in 1987, normally brings in donations ranging from 30,000 pounds to 45,000 pounds. Last year, however, the drive brought in only 24,914 pounds.

Mobley said he is not sure why donations have been down the last two years. He said his staff will review the collection operation next year.

"We're going to be reviewing the whole thing from start to finish," he said. "It's too soon to say what changes might be made."

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