“If it weren’t for the efforts from Cans for Fans we would have run out of food,” Rosen said, referring to a joint food collection effort by Sonoraville High School and Gordon Central High School students.
As Gordon County’s unemployment rate has risen, the VAC has seen an increase in the number of people visiting the food pantry. Rosen said that during October and November the pantry served more than 1,836 people.
The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI) is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that obtains data on issues such as poverty, health and government in Georgia. Before the economic downturn, 13.1 percent of all Gordon County households were “food insecure,” according to the last available data supplied by the GBPI.
This means that more than 6,000 people in Gordon County did not have enough resources to provide adequate food for each family member, according to the GBPI report.
“I believe those numbers have increased since this summer,” Rosen said.
In October and November the VAC fed 900 people a month, up from the 100 people a month it was feeding in June.
Those numbers of food insecure families have reached local school systems as well. Last year, 57 percent of students in Gordon County Schools received free or reduced lunches. This year, that number increased slightly to 59 percent.
“I was surprised it didn't jump more. You always hear about this plant closing down, but we always want students to apply,” said Angie Brown school nutrition director.
The cost of a lunch at Gordon County Schools is $1.60 for elementary and $1.85 for middle and high school. The cost a reduced lunch is $.40. Brown said free and reduced applications are available at www.gcbe.org.
Rosen said that recently when she pulled in to work at the VAC office she was met by a man sleeping in his car.
“Personally I have been touched and surprised by the number of homeless people living in our community,” she said.
Rosen is calling the current situation a crisis.
“Kids are struggling, people are going without,” she said. “I think a lot of people have the idea that because they don’t see homeless people when they drive by, that they don’t exist in Gordon County. That is a mistake. Just because we don’t see them doesn’t mean the problem doesn’t exist.”
The VAC has helped thousands of people in 2009, but Rosen says for every person they help, there are others out there who aren’t receiving assistance.
“The hardest thing for me is going home on a Friday night and knowing there is a couple living in a car over the weekend,” Rosen said.
The VAC relies solely on donations, of both nonperishable food items and money.
“I tell people, the next time you go shopping think about what you would buy if you were living in your car,” Rosen said.
Rosen said a prevalent problem faced by people who have experienced a job loss is not knowing where to go.
“A lot of the people I am seeing have never been out of work before. They don’t know how to sign up for food stamps, they don’t know how to sign their kids up for free or reduced lunches,” said Rosen.
Another problem VAC clients face is where to get a hot meal. Earlier this year local Chick-fil-A owner, Jonathan Purser gave the VAC cards for hot meals for local families in need. The VAC has already handed out 30.
“Everybody wants something done, but what do you do?” Rosen said. “We are all, as a community, going to have to take our blinders off. This is a real and growing problem.”
In July the VAC was the recipient of the BB&T Lighthouse grant. With the funds the organization received they were able to set up a resource center for those who have found themselves without employment. Those seeking assistance can learn how to sign up for food stamps, government assistance and other programs.
“There is so much that needs to be done,” Rosen said.
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