Countywide : Cuts Prompt Food Bank to Seek Help

Budget cuts that forced Orange County’s only drive-up food bank to discharge a quarter of its staff have turned a normal half-hour wait for food into a 90-minute ordeal for needy residents.

Community Development Council food service officials are now seeking volunteers to pick up the slack. The organization serves more than 6,000 people a month out of its Costa Mesa office.

“We’re just putting in an extra effort,” said program worker Casey McFall. “People interested in aiding the community will . . . hopefully help out.”

The food program was forced to eliminate 17 jobs and dismiss eight job-training participants last week. The cuts were made because the food bank received less money than expected from its income-generating services such as home weatherizing.

The 40 or so employees who remained tried to make the food distribution go as smoothly as possible by taking on additional responsibilities, McFall said. Nonetheless, the line of cars at the office this week was long.

On Thursday, all 650 people who requested food received it, McFall said, but most had to wait an extra 60 minutes.

Anyone interested in volunteering may call (714) 540-9293.