Henry Daily Herald

Special Photo The Helping in His Name Ministries Inc. Food Pantry is experiencing a drought in food and monetary donations not typical of food pantries heading into the holiday season.

STOCKBRIDGE — Needy families are being purged from the client list at one local food pantry.

“We’re going to have to go to the people who need the help the most,” said Nola Love, president of Helping in His Name Ministries Inc. Food Pantry.

Love said the purge is necessary to keep pace with the community’s increasing needs.

The pantry serves about 1,100 clients each month, providing local needy families with food and hygiene items. Its needs, she added, are as high as ever but donations are low and declining.

She said she recently told two out-of-work families that they could not receive any more assistance, at least for the time being.

“It’s been heavy on my heart,” said Love. “I’ve been here four years and this is the worst I have ever seen it.”

October typically kicks off the pantry’s food collection blitz as items and monetary donations begin pouring into the nonprofit in anticipation of the holiday season.

Love said food drive collections have been slow-going this year. Donations are fewer too, coming from fewer schools.

“The demand is more, but the food is less,” she said.

The pantry pays 16 cents per pound for food at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, which costs the pantry between $4,000 and $8,000 depending on local donations.

To learn more about Helping in His Name Ministries, visit www.helpinginhisname.org, e-mail helpinginhisname@bellsouth.org or call 678-565-6135.