Volunteers Charley Fronapel of Mt. Vernon and Dorothy Braendlein of John Day help set boxes of food out for visitors at the Grant County Food Bank July 23. Fronapel, a 2008 Grant Union High School graduate, has served at the food bank for one year alongside his father, David. Braendlein and her husband, Warren, have volunteered for three years. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter

JOHN DAY – A long line of people, young and old, were served at the Grant County Food Bank on July 23. In all, 238 people received food – 114 households.

The youngest in line was an infant held by his mother as she pushed her box along the counter, filling it with cans and packages of food. Young ones also walked with their parents, and other faces were young adult, middle-aged and those in their senior years.

All were warmly greeted by the volunteers, including Dorothy Braendlein, who’s been working at the food bank for more than three years, and Charley Fronapel, a volunteer for about a year.

Braendlein, who was handing out coffee creamer among other items, expressed her disappointment that there wasn’t more to give.

Fronapel carried the 50-60-pound boxes to the trunks of the visitors.

June was an extra busy month at the food bank with 320 people receiving food – 149 families.

Treasurer Walt Hall doesn’t remember ever topping 300 in a month.

“It’s the biggest month we’ve had,” said secretary Val Yuhas, who’s volunteered for the food bank for about 10 years along with her husband Lou.

With fewer donations coming from FEMA and the Oregon Food Bank, Val Yuhas sees a need for more food contributions.

She said the area has been hit hard by layoffs and “gas prices and food prices have gone up so high that people can’t keep up with everything.”

She said that people who weren’t thinking about food stamps before are now considering them.

Generally the winter months are the busiest at the food bank. Last November there were 297 people served.

Kile says that currently the organization is receiving “somewhat less” from the Oregon Food Bank to stock the shelves.

“It’s a sign of the times – food banks all over are having trouble,” he said, and so he appreciates the even flow of donations they are receiving from local citizens.

“We’re really fortunate that the churches and the individuals support our organization,” Kile said.

He noted that the previous week, a couple of individuals donated food.

“It’s an effort by all the people,” he said.

Others who want to help can contact Kile at 575-0899.

The Department of Human Services office in John Day is also seeing an increase in people applying for food stamps.

It’s not drastically up, said Peggy Neal, office specialist, but we had some influxes including those due to mill layoffs.

The total number of local food-stamp cases has jumped 12.7 percent from last year. There were 346 cases (a total of 814 people) in June 2007 and 390 cases last month.

Many other areas in the state have also seen increases in food-stamp usage.

Ontario is up 9.4 percent; Burns, 10.8 percent; Baker, 11 percent; La Grande, 6.8 percent and Bend, 21.7 percent.

Neal says that the most negative impact she’s seeing is the number of adults lacking access to the Oregon Health Plan.

“If you’re not pregnant, elderly or disabled there’s nothing available,” she said.

There is a reservation program; however, there is only a 1 in 9 chance of having your name drawn, she said.

“It’s affecting everyone’s pocketbooks because they end up at the emergency room,” Neal said. “In one way or another, we’re all paying for it.”

“It’s a problem everywhere.”