Published: September 04, 2008 09:39 am         

C’town food bank needs volunteers more than ever

Staff Report

With increasing unemployment, fast-rising inflation and huge fuel oil costs, the Cooperstown Food Bank is expecting its client load to increase.

Coordinators said August was the busiest month ever — serving 169 families. The food bank’s delivery for the month was 30 percent higher than any previous order (535 cases of food, six and a half tons or 13,000 lbs.) according to coordinators. Because demand is up, the food bank needs more help than ever as well, said the co-directors, Ellen St. John and Audrey Murray. Deliveries come by tractor-trailer to the Southside Mall once a month, and the food bank must provide trucks to bring the goods to Cooperstown. Coordinators said it typically requires at least 10 pick-up trucks to go get deliveries.

In the past, businesses, such as Bruce Hall Corporation and Ace- Haggerty Hardware, and individuals have loaned large trucks and trailers, said St. John and Murray. Two other firms have offered trucks for future deliveries, but they are still seeking any other companies or individuals who have large trucks and that would be willing to loan them occasionally.

The co-directors said they are also in search of people who own pick-ups who would be willing to take the trip to Oneonta once in a while in order to relieve some of the current drivers who go almost every month. The round-trip, including loading and unloading, usually takes about two to two and a half hours, they said.

The food bank also needs some men in ``good shape’’ to unload the trucks once they return to Cooperstown. Coordinators said this typically takes an hour to an hour and a half.

According to coordinators, orders come to Oneonta on the second and third Tuesday of each month and usually arrive in the mid-morning. Other ways people can give a helping hand is by volunteering to serve clients.

Volunteers work two-hour shifts on weekdays. The food bank is located in the basement of the Presbyterian Church on Church Street in Cooperstown. For more information about helping at the food bank, call 547-9653 or 547-8089.