By Sandy James
Review Staff Writer
Published: April 17, 2008

A slump in the economy has everyone from governments to families cutting expenditures and tightening the purse strings.
Two local food pantries are also feeling the pinch. As more folks fall on hard times, more donations are needed.
“With the slump in the economy, we have a lot of new people coming in,” said Love Outreach Food Pantry director Gloria Thatcher.
Thatcher coordinates the efforts of more than 40 volunteers.
“We do have wonderful volunteers. Without them we could not do what we do,” said Thatcher.
She said local churches, businesses, schools, organizations, hunters and other individuals have been very supportive.
“We’re staying above water. We did better than most localities before Christmas,” Thatcher said.
“This is our dry spell, between now and November,” she said.
Thatcher said canned soups, hamburger and tuna helper, peanut butter and jelly and any items that can be “stretched” are the most needed items.
Love Outreach Food Pantry serves Orange residents on the west end of the county up to Route 522, The LOW Lions Wilderness Food Pantry serves the east end of the county.
Love Outreach Food Pantry, at 252 Blue Ridge Drive in Orange, has been in service since 1985. It was started in a small classroom at the Pentecostal Holiness Church by the Rev. Bruce Johnson and his wife Annette. They provided food for a few elderly people at Heritage Hills Apartments.
Love Outreach currently serves 276 families. That’s about 1,800 individuals.
Clients qualify by showing proof of income such as forms from social services or a letter from the Social Security Administration. Clients must also prove that they live in Orange County.
Love Outreach Food Pantry receives donations from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays.
Love Outreach is open Wednesdays (except the 5th Wed. of the month) from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and every third Monday from 4 to 6 p.m.
To make a monetary donation, make checks payable to Love Outreach Food Pantry and mail to P. O. Box 788, Orange, VA 22960.
For more information on Love Outreach Food Pantry, call Thatcher at 672-7858.

The LOW Lions Wilderness Food Pantry, located at the Locust Grove Town Center, has been in service since spring 2001.
Co-Directors Betty Beck and Janet Haase and nearly 80 rotating volunteers keep the much-needed service going strong.
“We could not exist without our volunteers,” said Haas.
They currently serve 97 households. Clients are assessed for eligibility by income and family size. Haas said walk-ins are served first and assessed later.
The Wilderness Food Pantry usually gives out boxes of food for Easter, but due to the increased number of households they serve, they broke with tradition, and didn’t hand out Easter boxes this spring. They hope to be able to provide adequate monthly food supplies.
Haas said spring usually brings low inventories as the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank’s holiday donations start to dwindle. The Wilderness Food Pantry purchases food from the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank at 18 cents a pound. Haas said monetary donations go a long way at this price.
Local grocery stores, schools, clubs, churches and community donations keep the food bank supplied so patrons can get a balanced mix of groceries.
“Sometimes our clients need a little inspiration on how to prepare the items they receive,” said Haas. She has suggested making chili with ground chicken or turkey.
Haas said donations of jelly and peanut butter are currently the most needed items. Hamburger and tuna helper type products and canned goods are also in demand. Standard size plastic grocery bags (but not other sizes) can be used.
The Wilderness Food Pantry is also serving as a clearing house for washing machines, dryers, stoves, refrigerators and other household items in good condition for their clients.
Pantry hours are the first and third Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the second Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and the last Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
“We don’t close as long as someone is in line,” said Haas.
For more information on the Wilderness Food Pantry call Beck at 540-972-1872 or Haas at 540-972-1839. To make a monetary donation, make checks payable to LOW Lions Wilderness Food Pantry and send to P. O. Box 605, Locust Grove, VA 22508.