Food bank needs help
When creeks and rivers rise, spill over their banks and rush with force into buildings, there isn’t much to do but wait until the flooding recedes, then assess the damage. Wednesday’s unrelenting rains caused flooding throughout the county, with some municipalities especially hard hit. The unexpected loss has yet to be fully totaled; the amount might be staggering for homeowners and businesses that find themselves long on damage and short on insurance. Squeegees, bleach, hard labor and time will aid in the restoration.
There is no good time to deal with the devastation of floods. But mid-November is an especially bad time for the folks at Community Action who oversee the county’s food bank. Their warehouse, stocked with goods that were to be distributed in time for the Thanksgiving holiday was flooded.
The warehouse in Uniontown serves as a storage and distribution center for 48 food pantries throughout Fayette County. The loss is widespread and will be felt in homes throughout the area, and by families that depend on help from the food pantries to provide meals for children and the elderly.
Food drives throughout October brought in 12,000 pounds of food that was stored there for the upcoming holidays and to help families make it through the winter months. The loss of 40 percent of the food stock could be devastating.
The food bank needs your help. If you can, please consider donating either money or nonperishable groceries and dropping them off at the Shop ‘N Save at the Laurel Mall.