Recession over? In Elkhart County, the need for help is still growing

Mary Kneller, director of food services for Church Community Services in Elkhart, remains unconvinced.

"Come here for a week and work," she suggested.

Nearly three years since the start of the downturn, the need among Elkhart County residents is as high as ever. Local service agencies are having problems keeping food on their shelves as record numbers of people come looking for assistance. And morale among residents is faltering fast.

"The phone calls are just getting so depressing," said Rita Lane, an intake counselor with CCS.

At 9 a.m. Thursday a steady crowd of people -- some with children, others by themselves -- made their way through the food pantry at CCS. Clients stocked up on bread, cereal, chocolate chip cookies, canned vegetables and other items. The pantry has only six shopping carts for patrons, and a small line of people formed outside, waiting patiently for their turn.

Thursday's crowd is what CCS volunteers are used to seeing, but sometimes the masses arrive. Second-year volunteer Debbie Richards remembers a few weeks ago when 90 people came through the pantry within three hours.

Kneller said the number of clients has risen steadily each month. The pantry served 2,257 people in August, not counting 3,000 people who were served at the Roosevelt Center's Back to School Unity Festival. That number was up from 2,069 in July and 1,916 in April.

Amanda Stover of Goshen and Leroy Heider of Elkhart question experts' assessment of the recession.

Stover, a 28-year old single mother of four, was out of work almost two years before getting a part-time job with ADEC. CCS has been a big part of helping her get back on her feet, she said.

Heider, 30, has been jobless three months. He said he visits CCS sparingly but sometimes needs a hand providing food for his son and two dogs.

Neither Stover or Heider is convinced the recession is over. An end would bring jobs and would halt rising unemployment, Heider said. Stover agreed.

"I think it's still a long road ahead," she said.

Efforts are still under way throughout the community to raise money for those in need. Today the 30th annual CROP Hunger Walk will raise support for Church World Service and its partner programs. Portions of the funds raised will be shared with CCS and The Window in Goshen.

The 43rd annual Michiana Relief Sale was also this weekend. Proceeds go directly to the Mennonite Central Committee's relief efforts in the U.S. and abroad for people suffering from poverty, conflict, oppression and natural disasters.

Other local residents are looking for ways to contribute. Kneller said one regular contributor scouts out dog and cat food in damaged containers that can be donated to CCS. And on Thursday a Toys 'R' Us worker met with Kneller to see about donating fresh baby food that the store had taken off of its shelves.

The Elkhart Vette Set, a Corvette club that has been around since 1967, annually holds fundraisers for the community and this year donated $1,000 to the Bristol Community and Jefferson Township food pantries.

Jessica Koscher, vice president of the Elkhart County United Way, said UW-sponsored giving campaigns are under way. It's too early to tell what this year's campaigns could yield, but early feedback has been positive, and last year's numbers were up 27 percent.

Unfortunately, Lane and Kneller said the supplies coming in are nowhere close to meeting demand.

Summer and fall donations have been slow, which isn't compatible with the increasing need. Canned goods and boxed food are precious commodities, Lane said, as are personal care items.

Lane said holiday fundraisers and food drives should provide a boost in supplies, but volunteers don't expect what comes in to last long.

The Window in Goshen is seeing an equally troubling outlook.

"New faces are coming in for food every day," said Ed Swartley, director of The Window, "and our stock is all but gone."

Like CCS, The Window has seen the need for food rise over the summer and is feeding close to 1,000 people per month. Swartley said donations of money and food are drying up, particularly since the earthquake in Haiti, as donors are sending their contributions elsewhere.

Swartley is encouraged to see that some people are finding jobs, but also doubts the recession is over. People don't know what the future holds, he said.

Lane said residents are feeling the strain as resources dry up. Agencies are running out of funds, unemployment benefits for many have been exhausted, and friends and family are no longer able to lend money.

"Once you run out of places to go, you run out of hope," she said.

With his son and dogs depending on him, Heider has little choice but to keep moving forward.

"The only thing you can do is hope for the best and hold on for the ride," he said. "I'm just glad there are places like (CCS) for people that need it."