The economy presents the potential for a triple whammy for food shelves.

— High food prices make it more expensive to fill the standard packages of provisions the food shelves provide for the needy.

— More people are likely to be seeking help from food shelves as a slumping job market, mortgage problems and rising energy and food prices combine for a budget-wrenching impact on household finances.

— And the economic problems that are pushing more people into financial desperation also have a smaller — but still painful — impact on better-off citizens, making it harder for them to make traditional donations to charities such as food shelves.

“The economy always has an impact on everything that happens here,” said Jodi Root, the accountant at the Neighborhood Service Center in Waseca, which operates a food shelf and thrift store serving Waseca County.

Channel One, a Rochester food shelf, supplies many free food items for the Waseca facility. But shipping costs are paid by the recipient, and the high cost of truck fuel has been keenly felt.

“Their transportation cost has gone up, so we’ve had to pay more,” Root said.

For complete story, see the Sunday, April 27, 2008, print edition of The Free Press or sign onto our e-edition.

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