Cupboard not bare yet

Stacie Coulter and her four children were back at Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada's Community Food Pantry on Friday afternoon to pick up their monthly cart of groceries.

Before loading eight bags of pasta, canned vegetables and soups into the trunk of her Hyundai, Coulter, a single mother, paused to talk about how much the regular free groceries help the family.

"It leaves me with enough money to buy meat and milk, stuff I wouldn't usually be able to buy," she said. "I wouldn't be able to afford it."

The charity says it has seen an increase in recent years of families like Coulter's who need help with the essentials.

Officials there blame ever-rising prices for housing, groceries and utilities for forcing more working families to take advantage of free food programs.

"They bring in their bills to show us," said Tamico Terrell, a life skills manager for the charity. "Somebody brought in their $700 utility bill. I couldn't believe it."

Many of the families, like Coulter's, include at least one working parent.

Coulter works full time but says her income doesn't stretch far enough to cover living expenses for her and her children.

"I went into the grocery store, and milk was two for $6," she said. "It was $4.49 for a bag of chips. I almost broke out crying."

Catholic Charities, which administers three different food programs, also says it has seen a slight increase in the number of families driving in from the suburbs -- Summerlin and Henderson -- to pick up bags of food.

"Our client base is changing," said Sharon Mann, a spokeswoman for the charity. "In the past, most of our clientele has come by bus or foot, has lived in the area. People now have huge house payments and, at the end of the month, they can't afford food."

The charity's food pantry program provides groceries to people who may not qualify for government commodity and other food programs.

"People who are working don't usually qualify for those programs," Mann said.

"If you need food, we give you food."

Mann said the number of people who need the help this summer has increased by more than 60 percent from last year.

Workers at the pantry now hand out at least 65 bags of food each day. Last year, they gave out about 40 a day.

Catholic Charities has partnered with a local grocery store chain for a food drive to help with the increasing need.

Shoppers who visit any Albertsons grocery store through Sunday can purchase pre-packed grocery bags for $9.99 each.

The bags will be delivered to the Catholic Charities campus on Las Vegas Boulevard at Foremaster Lane. Donations also will be accepted on campus.

Families can pick up groceries from the community food pantry once every 15 days. The pantry gives out bags of groceries for each child in the family and also provides diapers and formula for babies.

It also hands out free toys to children on their birthdays.