Food Bank Struggling; Needs Donations

THE DURANGO FOOD BANK CONTINUES TOSERVE THOSE IN NEED EVEN AS THE CORONAVIRUS SPREADS ACROSS THESOUTHWEST. YOU'RE WATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK. I'M WENDY GRAHAMSETTLE. WITH MANY LOCAL DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS SHUTDOWN FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, HOW IS THE COMMUNITY PREPARING TOSUPPORT AREA RESIDENTS STRUGGLING WITH FOOD INSECURITY? THE DURANGOFOOD BANK SAYS IT IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEFEFFORTS TO ALL RESIDENTS AS LONG AS IT IS SAFE ENOUGH TO DO SO, BUTENCOURAGES FAMILIES WHO NEED SUPPLIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DAYSTHEY ARE OPEN. THE FOOD BANK IS EVALUATING THE ABILITY TO REMAIN OPENDAILY. SARAH SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DURANGO FOOD BANKREMINDED COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN A RECENT NEWS RELEASE THAT NOT EVERYONEWILL BE ABLE TO SELF ISOLATE SHOULD THE NEED ARISE. AREA RESIDENTSSTRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AREN'T IN A POSITION TO STOCK UP IN THEEVENT OF UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS LIKE THE THREATENING COVEN 19PANDEMIC.

IN ORDER TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN,SENIORS AND FAMILIES PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SELF ISOLATION,THE DURANGO FOOD BANK IS DISTRIBUTING SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD BAGS THROUGHA DRIVE UP. RESIDENTS SHOULD STAY IN THEIR CAR, SO VOLUNTEERS CANBRING FOOD BAGS OUT TO THEM. A FOOD STAMP BACKLOG THAT INCREASEDDEMAND BY 55 PERCENT, COMBINED WITH A HALT IN FOOD DONATIONS DUE TORECENT GROCERY HOARDING AND DECREASED CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS PAIREDWITH THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEFOOD BANK TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SUPPLIES. GETTING AHEAD OF THESITUATION BEFORE THE VIRUS HITS OUR COMMUNITY IS THE FOOD BANKSPRIMARY GOAL. THE FOOD BANK SAYS IT IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TOPROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR THOSE IN NEED NOW, EVEN IF IT LEAVES THEMSHORT OF SUPPLIES DOWN THE ROAD. THE FOOD BANK SAYS IT NEEDS CRUCIALCONTRIBUTIONS, INCLUDING HIGH PROTEIN FOODS LIKE CANNED MEATS, BEANS,AND PEANUT BUTTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN HELP OR TOMAKE A DONATION, EMAIL DURANGO FOOD BANK AT DURANGO DOT NET OR CALL(970) 375-2672 THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS EDITION OF LOCAL NEWSNETWORK. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THIS STORY AGAIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITEWHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP TO HAVE US DELIVER YOUR NEWS DIRECTLY INTO YOURINBOX. I'M WENDY GRAHAM. SETTLE FOR THE LOCAL NEWS NETWORK.

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