Empty shelves at food bank a severe problem - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

FeedMore Food Bank fears hundreds of people are going hungry. That's because the pantry shelves are empty.

"Really, I have nothing to sort!" said Bill Hackney, a volunteer. Most of the volunteers have not been very busy, because there is not enough donated food to fill the shelves.

Those in need are being turned away.

"I go back there, and I come back out and I say,'Hey, I'm sorry we just don't have it,'" said Hackney.

Hackney says in the two years he has been here, this is the worse he's ever seen. While the food bank helps thousands of people in 31 counties and five cities, the shelves have been bare for the past month.

"I've got empty shelves all over this place right now so you can imagine that the people that are desperately needing our food have even emptier shelves," said Gayle Haglund, the chief philanthropy officer.

FeedMore organizers say a lack of donations is not unusual during this time, but say this is severe. While the food bank is doing okay with bread and snack donations, it is lacking in more important items - like tuna, beans, pasta, fruits and vegetables.

"Any kind of pre-prepared meal. Anything you could think of that a person could eat right away. That's the kind of thing we need in here desperately," said Haglund.

Organizers say FeedMore distributes about 75,000 pounds of food every week. It is between two big food drives, but will not receive the next shipment for several days.

"We could distribute about 800 cans a day if it was here," said Haglund. "Believe me, if it was here, it would go."

Even when donations do come in, it's quickly taken by those in need that same day. Now, FeedMore organizers are pleading for the public to fill these shelves.

"This isn't just about one organization helping, this is about thousands of people helping," said Haglund.

"Scouting For Food" is the next big food drive. Thousands of grocery bags are going out right now. You can fill up a bag, then on Saturday, November 3, just place the bag in front of your house.

Click here to find out how you can help.

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