ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. - A lot of people are finding themselves in positions they’ve never been in before, and that includes going to the food bank.
Staff with the Food Bank of the Albemarle, which covers all of northeastern North Carolina, say they’ve seen about a 25% increase in demand.
One of the ways they’re trying to help is by doing mobile food pantries in communities where food banks have had to close.
Many of the volunteers who staffed those food banks are older and at too high a risk to continue working.
With the mobile food pantries, people can just drive up and have food placed in their trunk.
You can see a list of locations and times for their mobile food pantries here.
They also have case workers who can help people apply for food stamps.
Executive Director Liz Reasnor says they want to make sure everyone who needs help is getting it.
Related: Neighbors answer food pantry's plea with carloads of food
"With the demand for unemployment being so high, it’s just delayed the process for people to receive benefits," Reasnor told News 3. "People need to understand that food pantry programs and food banks are here to help them through that time. Yes, it’s not something anyone wants to have to do, but we’re here to provide that assistance for this brief time where people really don’t know where resources are going to come from."
The food bank could also use some help.
They always need more money to keep operating, but they also need volunteers.
Many of the volunteers they’ve relied on are also over the age of 60 and are staying home for safety reasons, so they’re looking for help with things like boxing up food.
You can contact them and find more information by going to their website.
