Daily Reporter Staff

With the cost of food and gas on the rise many relief organizations are seeing an increase in the number of people who need assistance with everyday necessities. The price of essential items is putting a strain on the resources available to the community.

Organizations designed to help people in need are finding it more difficult to do so with the increase. Upper Des Moines Opportunity in Spencer and Northwest Aging are among the organizations seeing a difference.

"We are seeing people come in who need help with groceries and don't know why, their income is not enough to cover the increasing costs of food and gas," said Anita Jorgensen, director of Upper Des Moines Opportunity. "The cost of everything is rising and wages aren't able to absorb that increase. People in rural areas who have to commute are especially feeling the increase because a transportation system is not available to help with the high cost of gas."

Upper Des Moines has held two very successful food drives recently to help with the burden. The KICD, Lite 104.9 and CD 107.7 Listener Appreciation drive collected 1,000 pounds and the Postal Service drive collected 3,000 pounds.

"Clay County has always been fortunate in the past, all we have to do is put a plea for help into the newspaper or the radio stations and we always receive a big response from people willing to help," said Jorgensen.

Jorgensen also expressed concern about how the increase in prices would affect Upper Des Moines' regular donors in the future and whether they would be able to continue donating if prices continue to increase so drastically.

Northwest Aging is another organization dedicated to helping people in need, specifically the elderly. Meal delivery and their elder guide services are feeling the impact of gas and fuel prices.

"We are finding it difficult to recruit volunteers to drive and deliver meals because of the high gas prices, " said Cynthia Beauman, executive director of Northwest Aging Association. "We have noticed a significant change in the nutrition service because of the high cost of food transportation. "The elder guides, a service in place to help the elderly fill out medical forms and answer any questions, are also looking for ways to conserve gas.