COVINGTON, La. - According to leaders of the Covington Food Bank, the need has never been greater on the Northshore.
Covington Food Bank Manager Jackie Catalanotto told Eyewitness News, since January 2009, an average of 100 new families a month have signed up for help, for one primary reason.
"Unemployment is just the word that we hear over and over. Not only unemployed, but completely unable to find jobs," he said.
The Covington Food Bank supplied food to 20 families a day before Katrina. Now, they help 78 families a day.
"People who were working have lost jobs," Catalanotto added. "Tons of them that come in, that's the problem."
The Food Bank organizers say they need help keeping up with the need.
The food bank also operates a dental clinic and a thrift store, and so far in 2010, the Food Bank has spent more than $14,000 helping the needy with utilities and rent. Plus, they pay at least the freight costs on much of their food.
They do it strictly with donations, getting zero governmental help.
Jackie Catalanotto said, they even asked the Food Bank's Board if they should stop taking new families.
"The Board says 'no'," Catalanotto said. "We want to feed the people. They'll get the money to buy the food and that's what we're going to do, as long as God allows us to."
But with an average of one hundred new families coming in every month for 14 months and counting, their resources are strained.
For more information on the Covington Food Bank, check their website at foodbankofcovington.org.
