Burlington Reporter

Food pantries are seeing some of the greatest operational demands since the Great Recession because of increased unemployment and the strain it creates on supply.

Millions of laborers have lost their jobs in the last few weeks, and while unemployment is available, checks have yet to arrive. 

“That’s a lot for us right now,” Amanda Bartolomeo, Alamance County Meals on Wheels executive director, told the Times-News, “and we really can’t put on any additional people unless we have more money coming in. Donations are down in general. Some people are out of work, so they’re not able to give. Churches aren’t meeting, so they’re not taking up money in the same way they usually do. That’s really affected us."

The county's Meals on Wheels still delivers food but has changed its system, according to the publication. Instead of delivering hot meals daily, a driver now delivers a package of frozen boxed meals once a week and leaves it on individuals' porches. 

“The clients call us as they need to because for some of them it really is like we’re their family. Our volunteers do a lot of extra things for the clients. They go grocery shopping; they take them to doctor’s appointments. For holidays they’ll take them a goody bag or some kind of special little treat.," Bartolomeo told Times-News. “The volunteers are very thoughtful and really care about the clients. So I know it’s been very hard for them to limit contact. But at least we’re still able to communicate by phone, and then we still see them through the window.”

Other food shelters in the state have had to change operating procedures as well. 

Allied Churches of Alamance County runs a lunch and dinner program Monday through Friday, but with the coronavirus pandemic, the program has stopped offering free dine-in meals, according to Times-News. Shelter manager Jai Baker said they are still offering free hot meals but only as carryout. 

Baker also manages a homeless shelter with 57 residents. Shelter staff take residents' temperatures often and make sure the shelter always has enough hand sanitizer and other cleaning supplies, Baker told Times-News. They also social distance themselves. 

“We maintain social distancing between ourselves,” Baker told Times-News. “No one is ever in the same room. Now, there’s a bunch of yelling and a bunch of conference calling and intercom calling, but it works.”