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WEDNESDAY December 3, 2003 - Subscribe - Contact Us Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 1, 2003 With poverty growing, ACCESS needs more Large amount of layoffs, rising cost of living conspire to leave many in area hungry By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland Food Pantry has an immense need for donations this holiday season. The pantry, run by ACCESS Inc. of Medford, is seeking food and monetary donations this holiday season Russ Koehler, resource development manager for ACCESS, said families who have used the pantry, located at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, has increased 65 percent in the last year. "We have had a large amount of layoffs in the last year," he said. "And the cost of living in Ashland has risen so drastically." While ACCESS budgeted for an anticipated 17 percent increase in demand for food at all of their 16 pantries, the overall increase in families in need has exceeded expectations. Koehler is hopeful people will give as part of the group's annual "Food for Hope" drive. In today's Ashland Daily Tidings, empty grocery bags have been inserted, in which to place donations. ACCESS hopes to collect 25,000 pounds of food and $25,000 in donations over the next month. Many families are sacrificing the amount of food they buy to pay for rent, Koehler said. "Whatever is left they use to go shopping," he said. The pantry helps families so they can have more money for other needed resources like medicine, he said. Koehler's confident people will give this year. "We have a great number of people in the community who look forward to the event," he said. Food that provides a source of protein is always most welcome. This includes canned tuna, peanut butter, canned meat and beans, rice, pasta and cold and hot cereals. People can bring the bags to both Ashland Fire departments, Jackson County Fire District No. 5 in Talent, and at the food pantry, located at 1650 Clark Ave. For more information, call the pantry at 482-2226, or ACCESS at 774-4325. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Road Cams