Summer slump leaves SERVE shelves empty

July 1, 2011 at 8:45 a.m. | Updated July 1, 2011 at 8:45 a.m.

Julie Ryerson, program assistant at SERVE, points out the many empty shelves in the food pantry. SERVE officials said the bare shelves are a result of high demand and a decrease in donations, which is typical for the summer months.
Julie Ryerson, program assistant at SERVE, points out the many empty shelves in the food pantry. SERVE officials said the bare shelves are a result of high demand and a decrease in donations, which is typical for the summer months.

A combination of continued high demand and the usual summer decrease in donations have left the SERVE Food Pantry's shelves almost entirely bare.

"We're pretty low (on food)," SERVE, Inc. Executive Director Lisa Brown said. "We've made a food purchase to get something on the shelves and we're trying to get some drives generated to supplement that."

Brown said the food pantry served 2,307 people in June while at the same time not bringing in sufficient donations to help keep up supplies, which she said is typical for this time of year.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.