Published: October 01, 2008 11:41 pm         

Price of food, fuel has impact on local residents

As the price of fuel and food increase nationally, more people face a crisis as their incomes are stretched beyond limit, said Cheri Ezzell, executive director of Community Development Support Asso-ciation in Enid.

A number of people have been impacted by high fuel and food prices and Ezzell said people may be turning to the food banks to help get by. The Horn of Plenty fall food drive is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“What’s impacting people is the increase in food and gas costs at the same time. People run out of money before they run out of month,” she said.

CDSA is a 2-1-1 provider for a six-county area around Garfield County. The 2-1-1 is a national system residents can call to learn what is available for social service needs. They receive calls from six counties, some of them rural, where little help is available. Ezzell said the rural numbers are going up because they have no assistance.

People in rural areas may have to drive further to a grocery store and gasoline prices are higher. When they get to the grocery store, food prices also are higher, she said.

“It’s nothing new. Some are struggling to get by and when basic necessities go up, they struggle harder, it’s pretty basic,” Ezzell said.

Ezzell thinks with both food and fuel prices going up, there may be more people relying on food pantries to get by. Horn of Plenty holds two food drives each year, and officials there say they always are out of food by the time the semi-annual drive begins.

“If you’re working, but can’t make enough to meet everyone’s needs, you do the best you can. When needs change, what do we do?” she asked.

CDSA always is struggling to meet all areas of need and there are more pressures on people and individuals are more worried about the economy today, she said. CDSA is a community action agency and part of a state association.

The director of Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies, Bob Brandenburg, talks to agencies around the state and asks for their impressions of how to meet conditions.

“We hear people saying it’s not just gas, but food too,” she said. “When their isn’t much cushion, you run out quicker.”