EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
With the drought damaging crops this summer, the Tri-State Food Bank is worried about having enough on the shelves to feed the hungry.
The food bank relies on local growers for fresh produce and with fewer crops to donate, it could have a devastating effect on people needing food assistance.
It's rare for the Tri-State Food Bank's shelves to be so bare.
"We really rely on local farmers and community gardens to get food, local produce during the summer months. If the product isn't there because it's wilted up in the fields, there's going to be a lot of people who are hungry that aren't going to have that food," said Mary Blair, the Executive Director of the food bank.
Blair says demand is typically higher in the summer when kids are out of school. Between that and the drought, she says they're taking a two way hit.
"It's really kind of a double whammy for us because if we have to purchase the food because we're not getting it through donations. I foresee the cost going up because of supply and demand and it's going to cost us more," Blair said.
To put it in perspective, the Tri-State Food Bank provides food to over 100,000 people annually through a network of over 250 feeding programs. That includes an impressive 170 food pantries and 80 local soup kitchens and shelters throughout 33 counties in the Tri-State.
"When we bring food in, we're like a clearinghouse. Our food goes to the pantries, the soup kitchens, the shelters, the abuse centers," Blair said.
Blair says the list of needs is long, but items high in protein are at the top.
She says any donation, large or small, helps a tremendous amount of hungry people. All donations go to local families in need.
You can drop off donations at the Tri-State Food Bank that's located at 801 East Michigan Street in Evansville.
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It's rare for the Tri-State Food Bank's shelves to be this bare.
