Utica Food Pantry sees spike in demand

The coronavirus pandemic has left more people needing services from the Utica Food Pantry.

Healthy during this pandemic, others are more concerned with putting food on the table for their families.

News channel 2's caitlin irla is live at the utica food pantry to tell us about the increased need and how you can get assistance.

Caitlin.

Good evening kristen.

With so many people out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic, the utica food pantry has seen a 40 percent increase of people in need.

That increase is mostly new people, who have never needed this type of assistance before.

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None .

None "we have an influx of people that have been coming in that have recently lost jobs and their income conditions have changed."

Life has changed for everyone.

And here at the utica food pantry... the need is growing.

"if you asked me 2 or 3 weeks ago if we were going to be open, i'd say i wasn't sure."

But thanks to the community, the food pantry is open and helping the community.

"the community has helped us keep going and we've been trying to keep the needy in the community going."

A task that isn't easy, but for brooks and his volunteers, they feel it's needed.

"i can't say enough about these people coming out of their houses to help others."

"i could stay home at my house but id be thinking about this operation shut down and these people not having food to put on their table."

Brooks says it's a balancing act trying to serve the community and keep everyone safe.

"we only allow two people in the pantry," "while they're waiting we're enforcing social distancing& lines& keep everyone as safe as we can."

All the volunteers have protective gear, have masks have gloves."

> if you are in need but you're not sure where to start, all you have to do is fill out this intake form and show proof of identity.

You can fill out the form here at the pantry or online.

We will have a link to the form on our website, wktv.com.

The food pantry is open monday, wednesday, and thursday 11 am to 1 pm.

Coming up at 6 i'll tell you how you can donate!

Kristen back to you.