Steps Taken to Ensure Food Bank’s Survival

The flood of contributions to Councilwoman Kathryn McCullough’s food bank may have leveled off in recent days, but residents are taking steps to ensure that its financial crisis is permanently over.

Three weeks after the fund-raising drive started, more than $19,000 has been collected to support the Adopt-A-Neighbor food program, which has served more than 100,000 people since opening 17 years ago.

But more important, volunteers are stepping forward to form a permanent fund-raising organization for the food bank.

“People feel like they saved this program themselves, and it’s giving them a sense of ownership,” McCullough said.

If not for the contributions, today would have been a critical day for McCullough. The councilwoman had said she would resign May 1 because the federal government, out of conflict-of-interest concerns, had denied a $10,000 grant to Adopt-A-Neighbor. The perceived conflict stemmed from her dual role as potential grant recipient and member of the City Council, which has authority to help distribute federal funds.

Adopt-A-Neighbor’s $100,000 annual budget is funded mainly by donations and a $40,000 grant from the county.

But expenses had exceeded revenue, and private contributions have dropped almost one-fourth in recent years, while the number of people the program serves has been steadily increasing. McCullough, who runs the program with her husband, needed the $10,000 to pay overdue rent and other bills.

After publicity about her dilemma, funds poured in, and a grateful McCullough rescinded her resignation at last week’s council meeting.

To prevent future financial difficulties, volunteers will have annual fund-raising drives in April.

Additionally, Adopt-A-Neighbor workers are contacting local cities about grant funds and will look for a new office and storage complex with lower rent rates.