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More and more families turn to local food bank for Thanksgiving

By Ray Gomez

For many families the night before Thanksgiving is when the turkey goes in the oven and all preparations for the big feast begin. But for many Laredo moms and dads, there may not be enough money to put an entire thanksgiving dinner on the table.

The thanksgiving feast for many families across laredo may not be as lavish as expected this year, as thousands of people hit hard by the economy turn to the local food bank for help.

“We’ve seen an great increase of people coming to our door looking for food.”

Food bank representatives say they're giving everything they can to help.

“We’ve been with bags of food to help them out with thanksgiving dinners such as stuffing, gravy, veggies.”

But the food bank itself may be running near empty this holiday season.

The list of families on the Adopt A Family Program has doubled this year.

Many families are still waiting to receive any help they can.

The number is double the state average and triple the national average.

“Even though we're helping more people the list keeps growing.”

So before everyone eats their Thanksgiving dinner, food bank representatives hope more-fortunate families will give thanks for every side dish they have.

“Try to raise awareness let people know there’s hunger in our community and we need to work together to help out.”

The cost to adopt a family is $120 a year; for more information you can contact the South Texas Food Bank at 726-3120.

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Teach said on Wednesday, Dec 2 at 11:43 PM

Some of these people from Mexico have no shame. They come over here just to get free stuff. Last year my sister and her family volunteered at Bethany House, and they noticed the majority of people were from Mexico. These so-called indigent people even had the nerve to mention that they didn't like some of the food being distributed. Abuses like these make many people wary of contributing and donating.

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Mario said on Wednesday, Dec 2 at 11:19 AM

Why does the Bethany House and the Salvation Army help the peiple of Mexico? Those two organizations should help the local people of Laredo only.

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J. Mendiola said on Sunday, Nov 29 at 4:59 PM

Do the Food Bank even ask for proof of residency? And I mean a utility bill, rent receipt, not the ones from Wallmart, and not a letter from someone "certifying" that the individual lives here? Come on, as Bellystomper said, help local/LEGAL residents!!

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Bellystomper said on Sunday, Nov 29 at 10:52 AM

1st assist your local US/legal residents - living in the community I don't know how much of the assistance if any is going to Mexico - do U ???????

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