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You wouldn't necessarily think of families needing a helping hand in some of Cincinnati's well-off suburbs, but one Mason pantry says the need is so great, that it's had to expand.
The volunteers at the Mason Food Pantry say demand is up.
What they're finding is that the poor aren't the only ones walking through their doors.
They're finding more professionals, who have been laid-off, asking for help.
"They've helped me and my son tremendously. I've been out of work and they've done so much. They've helped us with school and we appreciate them greatly," said Penny Stover of Mason.
In August 2008, the pantry served an average of 115 adults and 85 children each week.
August of this year, there were 180 adults and over 200 children in need.
Pantry volunteers say they realize this is the first time that most of their clients have ever needed a helping hand, so when they expanded into a second location at 406 Fourth Avenue, they designed the facility to look more like a small grocery store.
"People are commenting left and right on how they feel more at home here and more at ease when they have to come to the food pantry. Because that sometimes is a very difficult thing to have to come to a pantry," said Mason Food Pantry Director, Gina Brown.
The shelves are stocked with donations from places like Panera Bread and food from area grocery stores.
"You've got to pack lunches. And, they've put a lot of things out here, to help with, to pack lunches. They try to make sure that they have everything that they need, including school supplies," Stover said.
The pantry has also received donations for family pets.
"A lot of times when people are needing to come to a pantry, their animals need food as well. It's a really nice donation when people do donate that kind of stuff to us," Brown said.
The Mason Food Pantry has a limited supply of food, but because of the increasing need in the Mason area, volunteers are planning to reach out to larger food pantries to help stock their shelves.
If you can help or if you need assistance, contact volunteers at (513) 754-0333 or Mason Food Pantry, 406 Fourth Avenue, Mason, OH 45040.
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