KINGSTON, Pa. — This Friday, nearly 250 trunks are being filled with food, thanks to Sara's Table at Kraus Chaiken Food Pantry at the Friedman JCC in Kingston. The pantry has been serving people for nearly three decades.
Volunteers are busy throughout the week, preparing hundreds of bags for families across the valley. On their distribution days, they give out upwards of 250 bags, and more than 700 families have registered.
"I think the cost of food has gone way up. People are debating if they can buy their medication, food, how they can pay the rent, how they can survive, and we want to help," said Barbara Sugarman, the food pantry supervisor.
While the number of volunteers ready to help is abundant, the food on the shelf is not.
"We would fill the bag according to the need of family members. We can't do that anymore, we just can't," said Volunteer, Patty Kopec.
The lack of donations and a growing line of cars have really put a strain on the food pantry's services. So much so that it's scaling back free food pickups to twice a month.
"How high are the numbers actually going to go? How high can we keep feeding people at those numbers," said Kopec.
It also scaled back on the amount they can give out. Instead of filling fridges, they are now giving families just enough to get by.
"We know that they're out there and we know that people, they're getting this. It's a help, but it's not going to help solve their problem of more food that they need," said Kopec.
While these volunteers still hand out what they can, donations are desperately needed. The group says it's important to have donations, not just as the holidays approach, but to keep filling trunks throughout the year.
"If you look around your house and what you use every day, that's what we need. Peanut butter, jelly, cereals, toilet paper, Kleenex, toothbrushes," said Sugarman.
Food or monetary donations for Sara's table can be dropped off at the front desk of Friedman JCC in Kingston.