Stanislaus County social service providers feeling squeeze

RIVERBANK -- People start lining up outside Scout Hall on Fridays about two hours before Riverbank Christian Food Sharing opens its doors at 8 a.m. to give out boxes and bags of food.

This year has been especially busy. Yolanda Guider, one of Riverbank Christian Food Sharing's three co-chairwomen, said the volunteer-run food bank has never fed as many people during her 20 years with the group.

And there has been no slack in demand this summer. This is typically when it drops because many who rely on the food bank find temporary work in the fields and canneries.

"The demand is definitely worse," said Lynda Silva, one of Riverbank Christian Food Sharing's co-chairwomen. Since December, the start of the food bank's budget year, it had served 10,200 people through July. Silva said the food bank served 7,300 people during the same period last year.

But as the number of people who need help grows, Riverbank Christian Food Sharing and other social service providers that feed and shelter the poor and provide help with utilities, rent and mortgage payments are feeling squeezed after Congress slashed funding for a national program that has sent millions to Stanislaus County over the years.

Congress cut the funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Food and Shelter Program from $200 million to $120 million this year. And because Congress could not pass its budget on time, this year's funding has been delayed by about six months.

Money expected soon

The 20 Stanislaus County social service providers that have been awarded funding should get their money within two weeks, said Rebecca Ciszek, executive director of the Stanislaus County Chapter of the American Red Cross, which administers the program locally.

"It's total frustration," Silva said about the funding delay, "because we keep running out of things. There have been times when it's just been the bare minimum. But we give them what we have."

Riverbank Christian Food Sharing received $20,000 last year from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. This year, it will receive $15,000. Guider said the grant is the group's largest source of money.

Stanislaus County was awarded $395,372 in emergency food and shelter funding this year, a 30 percent drop from the $566,683 it received last year. This is fourth year in 20 years in which Stanislaus County has received less than $400,000.

The delay in groups receiving their money was caused by political gridlock, said Steve Taylor, vice president and counsel for public policy at United Way Worldwide. Congress did not pass its budget for 2011 fiscal year, which started Oct. 1, until April.

Taylor said he fears agencies that receive funding may experience more of the same next year, in part, because of Washington's emphasis on reducing the federal deficit.

"We're very concerned," he said, adding that the United Way's position is that funding should be restored to $200 million.

Less funding for services

Riverbank Christian Food Sharing is not the only local agency feeling pinched. The Salvation Army in Modesto received $107,000 last year and will receive $73,900 this year.

"Less money, of course, means less money to do the services that we do," said Brian Aird, The Salvation Army's business coordinator.

Aird said The Salvation Army has seen an increase in the number of people asking for help with their utility bills and is sending more food to food programs throughout the county.

Riverbank Christian Food Sharing is one of those programs. It also gets food from Inter-Faith Ministries in Modesto and from farmers, backyard gardeners and grocery stores. It's also received help from Riverbank businesses and residents.

"We don't know how it happens, but we keep getting blessed," said Silva, with the food bank. "… That's why we've been able to keep our doors open and keep giving food to people."

The food is appreciated.

Calvin Anglin, 68, was among the more than 100 people who turned out Friday at Scout Hall. He receives $1,000 a month in Social Security. After paying his bills, there often isn't much left. "It's a help to me because food has gotten to be so gosh darn expensive," he said. "You just don't have enough money to go to the grocery store."

Bee staff writer Kevin Valine can be reached at (209) 578-2316.