Duncanville » News

By DANIELLE PARKER
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 9:39 AM CST

News Editor

The holiday season is here. It is time for lots of shopping, eating and parties.

However, for many, the holidays are anything but happy. It is a time where economic pressure, job lay-offs and rising prices are most evident.

Duncanville Outreach Ministries staff and volunteers are well aware of the need within the community, especially as the holidays approach.

“We served about 603 families in October, and we have already served 330 this month so far,” Davis said. “We are averaging two-five families each day. I don't know how we will be able to keep that up. Since the first of October we have gained 68 new families.”

With more and more residents needing help, DOM has had to increase its service efforts considerably.

“Our sacks contain about 50 food items. Multiply that by the number of families we have, and we are giving out over 30,000 food items a month. We have spent about $92,000 on food, that is an increase of about 15 percent from last year.”

Davis believes the growing numbers DOM has seen is mainly due to the financial crisis many around the country are facing.

“We are up 13 percent from this time last year and that number is continually growing,” she said. “With the economy the way that it is, it is hard right now for a lot of people. A few days ago, every new person who came in was here because they had been laid off.”

In recent years, Texas has led the nation in its number of impoverished families, according to the North Texas Food Bank. Because of this, agencies around the state are uniting to feeding hungry families.

“In May of this year, the North Texas Food Bank asked all food pantries to double the amount they distribute by the year 2011,” Davis said. “It has started a program called ‘Close the Gap' and hopes to provide 50 million meals by 2011.”

While this initiative is nowhere near impossible, Davis said it will be very difficult under DOM's current space constraints.

“In 2001, DOM handled 2,441 food item requests,” she said. “This year we have already placed more than 5,400. We have almost tripled our food request per year, but our space has not changed.”

The solution has been to create a 12'x41' addition.

“The main impact on us is that we have so many families that we don't have enough storage,” Davis said. “We are wanting to add on about 400-500 square feet of space, and it will all go to food storage. The add-on will cost about $41,000. We are going through that process of getting this set up because that is what it is going to take.”

In the meantime, Davis said DOM will continue to satisfy the needs of those residents who need assistance.

“We are not turning away any families away,” Davis said. “If they qualify, we are going to help them. We are trying to meet the NTFB's objectives, as well as provide for our families.”

As always, DOM relies on Duncanville organizations to help it maintain its service. It is local aid that allows DOM to aid others, according to Davis.

“We have been able to stay well-stocked and manage our donations,” Davis said. “We have had tremendous community support from churches, schools, Scouts and senior centers. This is a community resource. It is their donations that make DOM the success that it is.”

DOM is located at 202 E. Cherry St. For more information, contact 972-296-4986.

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