Demand depletes local food banks

Demand for food by an increasing number of financially strapped families in the Mountain Home community continues to strain local food banks and relief agencies as the holiday season approaches.

"I'm afraid. I'm honestly afraid of what's coming down if (the federal government) stops the unemployment benefits in the coming weeks," said Tina Ruberry, a representative with the Grace Lutheran Food Pantry in Mountain Home. "Where is it going to end?"

"The need just wiped us out this year," added Terri Cornford, county coordinator for the El-Ada Community Action Agency. "A week ago, we literally had nothing to put a box (of non-perishable food) together. There were no canned goods. There were no non-perishable side dishes."

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