Fanny Solis has always gotten by on her $9-an-hour pay, but she woke up Thursday and knew she had to ask for rent money from Dallas North Shared Ministries.
GUY REYNOLDS/DMN
Van Barringer, a Meals on Wheels driver, talks to Elizabeth Still, who will take the meal inside to her father. Mr. Barringer has been delivering Meals on Wheels once a week for about 15 years in southern Dallas neighborhoods.
"I get up to go to work just to pay the bills," said Ms. Solis, 23, of Dallas. "Everything is to pay the bills."
It was the first time she had sought help from a charity. And she is not alone.
GUY REYNOLDS/DMN
At St. Philip's School, Van Barringer signs for the 14 meals he will deliver. Some other drivers for Meals on Wheels have given up their routes because of gas prices. Meanwhile, the agency has added clients.
As the economy slumps and prices for food and gas soar, as many as 50 new people a day have turned to the same North Dallas agency. In Garland, people wearing business clothing and carrying briefcases have come to the Salvation Army. And the North Texas Food Bank is preparing to pump 1 million pounds of food into Collin County to meet growing demand; that's five times the current food level.
Charity organizers say rising prices have prompted many new faces to seek help with housing, food, gas, clothing and other expenses. But some of the same cost increases are making it harder than ever for charities to cover their overhead, putting an unprecedented strain on services for needy families.
"We feel like we are getting squeezed at both ends," said Jan Pruitt, chief executive officer of the North Texas Food Bank. "Our costs are rising as our partners are taking record number of pounds [of food] from us."
Many Dallas-area charities have seen at least a 15 percent increase in demand, while some food pantries have recorded up to 25 percent jumps in new clients, officials said.
At Dallas North Shared Ministries, new faces show up daily, executive director Judy Rorrie said. The agency served 1,630 people in June, an increase of about 100 from the month before.
"We are drowning," Ms. Rorrie said. "The increased cost of gas and food is affecting everyone. Our clients are forced to pay for one thing versus another."
The agency gives qualified clients from North Dallas food and clothing, as well as vouchers for gas, rent and other expenses.
Melvita Shoals said she worked full time for 24 years, but after being laid off she couldn't scrape together enough money to pay the rent.
"I just have so many bills to pay for," she said. "Gas is killing me."
In Garland, many of the people who have come to the Salvation Army insist that they aren't looking for a handout, said Pat Patey, a Salvation Army spokesman.
"They want to treat the assistance as if it was a loan, but that's not the way we do it," Mr. Patey said.
The rising fuel prices that have sent many people looking for help are also making it hard for the charities to do business.
Fuel costs have risen 70 percent at the North Texas Food Bank this year, and the Dallas regional office of the Salvation Army expects to spend about $60,000 more on fuel this year compared with 2007, officials said.
At the Dallas division of Meals on Wheels, some volunteers have dropped their routes because of gas prices, forcing the agency to hire drivers to deliver meals so they can keep pace with demand.
The number of clients has increased about 16 percent to 4,400 people this year compared with 3,800 people last year, said Shegala Smith, the agency's director.
She said the growing costs may force the agency to raise the meal price, which currently is $5.
"We have tried to keep our cost the same, but I don't know how much longer we will be able to keep it at that rate," Ms. Smith said.
Charity organizers say donations have also slowed at some agencies, worsening the problem. Still, many organizations across the Dallas area say they have no plans to cut back services. They now rely on willing volunteers more than ever.
Amy Carpenter, 33, a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels, said the extra few dollars a month that it costs her to drive her route won't stop her from stepping up.
"It's not about the money," said Ms. Carpenter of Dallas. "It's about the 14 people we help."
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