SMITHVILLE – The number of families in Chenango County living at or below the poverty level has reached a staggering number. One local organization has been trying to combat the problem for years, but with little funding and more and more people in need, the organization is falling on hard times.
The Smithville Community’s Assistance Program of Impowerment, or SCAPE, became incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2003, but SCAPE has been helping the community for far longer. Monthly mass food distributions have been held on the second Saturday of each month since 1999. Suzi Hammond heads the organization with a board of approximately nine people, including her husband and Chair of the Board, Vic Hammond.
“The food pantry covers Coventry, Brisben, Greene, Tyner, McDonough, Smithville Center, Smithville Flats and German. It feeds at least 100 families a month,” Vic explained.
Suzi decided she wanted to be a part of the food pantry years ago, after the family fell on rough times. “At the time, we had three young boys, and we needed a little help,” Vic said. He explained how hard it was for the family to find the help they needed and that they were not always treated kindly during the process. “Because of that, if you come down and say you need help, no one questions you. They just give you what you need.”
In recent years, it has become more and more difficult for the food pantry to find the funding they need to operate. As a member agency of the Food Bank of Central New York, SCAPE had been receiving $2,500 a year through the Hunger Prevention And Nutrition Assistance Program from the New York State Department of Health. Approximately five years ago, this amount was decreased to only $1,900 a year in the form of a credit. According to Vic, who in addition to being the Chairman of the Board is also the Treasurer, other forms of funding have also been cut.
According to SCAPE, the average amount of money spent on food commodities is $1,000 per month, far less than they receive in terms of funding.
The monthly mass food distributions have been canceled for an indefinite amount of time because of the organization’s lack of funding. SCAPE is currently limited to only distributing emergency allocations.
“The pantry’s in a financial bind. There’s a lot of money going out and little money coming in. The Food Pantry may meet its demise because of this,” said Vic.
In addition to the lack of financial support, the volunteer support has been dwindling over the years as well. “It’s a small community, but there’s not a lot of community support,” Vic said. In the past, the organization had between 75 and 85 volunteers, the number has decreased to approximately 30 regular volunteers. “We now have to do it all. The average age of the volunteers is 53 and most have reached the point of burnout,” Suzi explained in a written statement. The volunteers are responsible for unloading the food from trucks and packing and distributing baskets when SCAPE is operational.
According to Vic, SCAPE will be taking a break from their monthly distributions for the summer to regroup and examine their options. “It’s possible that we may have to cut some areas and distribute only to the Smithville area,” he said. He was unsure what effect this could have. “A lot of our recipients are elderly,” he said, estimating that at least a third were 70 or older.
The Smithville Food Pantry is located at the site of the former Hidden Valley Archery on Round Pond Road. For more information about SCAPE, or to make a food or monetary donation, contact Suzi or Vic at 656-9745 or 656-7202.