In part two of our profile on rising gas and food prices, we bring you a story from our neighbors in Waco.

“Our clients are going through great lengths just to survive and get basic access to food, and it’s heartbreaking,” says Dr. Patricia Iglehart, CEO and Founder of the Just As I Am Ministries, Inc. in Waco. “With the rising gas prices, clients are now finding themselves giving family or friends a few bucks for gas just so they can come to our pantry.” Dr. Iglehart is inspired by the community coming together to support their hungry neighbors, but she also adds, “Families shouldn’t have to struggle just to put food on the table, much less struggle to access available support services in the community.”

If you are poor with little access to transportation in east Waco, accessing affordable food often requires great planning, good networks, and extra cash to pay for gas. “There’s no major supermarket in the east Waco area, and public transportation stops before seven in the evening,” says Dr. Iglehart.

Since she opened the pantry in March 2010 (in response to the great need for accessible food for low-income community members), clients have soared from 50 on opening week to more than 140 households served each week out of the modest 900 square-foot building. And, more than 62 tons (124,000) pounds of food has been distributed. Dr. Iglehart says she’s even seeing a surge of people wanting to volunteer more, to help extend the hours and days the pantry is open. “A lot of people here are proud. They don’t want to accept ‘charity’ but they want to give back, while they receive help.”

To help streamline operations and reach more community members, clients make appointments to receive food. Patricia said the system has helped families save money because they’re not paying one person gas money to get them to the pantry, waiting for several hours and paying another person to get back home. On the few occasions there is extra food, Patricia and her team of volunteers visit residents in public housing to distribute the food.

On behalf of the Partner Agency, Dr.Iglehart shops online through the Food Bank’s online ordering system to choose the foods her community asks for the most. “Protein,” she says, “is the first thing I look for.” Growing up poor, she understands first-hand how quality protein products can quickly disappear from the dinner table when times are tough. “I focus on providing those basic staples needed for a good nutritious diet,” she said.

Learn more about Just As I Am Ministries by reading their blog and visiting their website.

Did you miss Part 1? Read the story here.

How does the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas nourish more than 48,000 people each week?

Because we deliver.

Our fleet of trucks travel the equivalent distance of circling the equator each month – approximately 25,000 miles – to deliver food and grocery products to Partner Agencies in our 21-county service territory.  With a service territory about twice the size of Massachusetts, the Regional Food Delivery program helps agencies use their funds to support programming instead of fueling up their trucks and making the long trip into Austin.

But, with rising food and fuel prices, we’re feeling the same pinch clients like Annalee Killian struggles with.   We estimate the higher gas prices will cost the CAFB about $50,000 more a year.

Watch the KXAN report:

Gas and food prices hurt charities: kxan.com

Your support goes a long way to ensure our Regional Food Delivery program can thrive and support our Partner Agencies.  Learn more about how you can help. And, in the next couple of days, look for part 2 of our report on rising gas and food prices.