Food Pantries, Payday Loans Help

Posted On: August 27, 2010 at 12:47 p.m.

Filed Under: food pantries pawn shops payday loans

With tough economic times, it is difficult enough to find work to make ends meet. But imagine that you are unable to work because of injury or sickness? Many across the country find themselves in this unfortunate situation and they often rely on two services that help them get through the really tough times—food pantries and besides payday loans : “Without a food pantry, Clarie Knapp, 55, said grocery money would have to come from hunting aluminum cans and picking pecans. [[ads]] Her husband, Joe, 65, sustained a severe head injury while working in the oil fields several years ago, and the couple rely on his disability benefits and her part-time job at Lowe’s Home Improvement, where she makes $9.15 per hour. The couple also support an adult daughter who is unable to work, Knapp said. Visits to pawn shops and payday loans help the family make ends meet, along with the occasional food pantry visit. “Things come up and just kind of eat you alive,” said Knapp, describing how a water leak recently caused the family’s water bills to more than double. Whatever the back story, more people are seeking help from local food pantries, according to local pantry and food bank officials “(http://www.reporternews.com/news/2010/aug/24/food-pantry-visits-rise-in-big-country-n-demand/). This is a case where payday loans appear to help those in desperate need. As long as they know that they can pay them back quickly, this can be an important service.