September 13, 2000 ALTON -- The Crisis Food Center is running out of canned foods to feed hungry and homeless people. "The shelves in our food pantry are nearly bare of canned food, and we need help to replenish them," said Ruth Wilson, director of the Crisis Food Center in Alton.

Volunteers at the center gave food to 1,815 needy people in July, Wilson said. "Its one of the highest months for food distribution."

The food pantry and Nearly New clothing shop has provided food and clothing to thousands of people since the late Frances Jackson started the Crisis Food Center 23 years ago.

People of all ages come to the center daily for food for their families, Wilson said. "Young parents with children and older people in their 80s ask for help."

People who want to donate canned goods can deliver the food to the Crisis Food Center from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center is at 21 E. Sixth St., near the corner of Sixth and Alby streets in Alton.

"We need all kinds of canned vegetables and fruit," Wilson said.

People who are 80 and 90 years old stop for food at Crisis Food Center, Wilson said. "One 90-year-old man regularly needs food," she said.

Older people are paying high costs for medical prescriptions to protect their health, Wilson said. "Theyre going without food to pay for prescriptions," she said.

The center may provide food to as many as 20,000 people this year, Wilson said. "We feed about 1,500 to 2,000 people every month," she said.

"Well distribute food to about 3,000 people in November and 3,000 in December."

The center brings a little cheer into the lives of needy people for Thanksgiving Day. "We give a turkey to folks for their Thanksgiving dinner," Wilson said.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=848578&BRD=1719&PAG=461&dept_id=25271&rfi=6

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 13, 2000

Answers

UK currently at a 5.5 :-'

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), September 13, 2000.