MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — The shelves are mostly empty every Monday following the weekend food distribution at Christ Episcopal Church in Stroudsburg. Food collected inside the food pantry is used to feed hundreds of families.
Debby Campbell, the co-director of the food pantry at the church, says the pantry was only serving about 30 families in March. Now, they are up to 290 families. She believes part of the reason for the increase in need is the ending of the emergency COVID-era SNAP benefits, along with more people moving to the area.
"There's a need. Food scarcity is there. We have an increase in Latino families that have moved into the area. We have an increase in families that came off the bus from Texas and from there coming from not only Latino countries but also from Haiti," Campbell said.
To help the pantry and several others, the church is hosting a Paint the Town Red event. All the money raised from selling red bows, which will hang around downtown, will benefit five local food pantries in Stroudsburg.
"We started out this year with a budget of about $9,000 within the food pantry, and by the end of September, it totally dwindled. If it wasn't for other donations that came in, we would not have money in the budget to do anything," Campbell said.
Bows cost $25, but if you want to give it in memory or honor of someone, it costs $35.
They'll be put up ahead of Stroudsburg's Christmas tree lighting.
The church is hoping to sell 200 bows.
"Not only does the red bow look nice for the holidays, but it brings some happiness," said Fr. Bruce Gowe from Christ Episcopal Church. "You're making an impact in your community. Even if it's a small pebble in the pond, it ripples out."