The Beacon, a local helping agency, needs food and financial donations.

“We’ve been here since 1984 and are the second largest food bank in southeast Kansas,” said Director David Gillen.

In the last few months, he has seen an increase in the number of people The Beacon is helping.

“We serve 465 families,” he said. “That number includes 606 adults and 458 children. We gave groceries to 25  NEW families in July.”

“Our count continues to go up; our donations are down.”

“Food prices keep going up,” which add to a family’s burden.

The latter part of the year is when most organizations plan food drives, he said.

“Most of our donations come in the fall,” he said. “We get food and financial donations from generous individuals and organizations, who give a lot during this time.”

The staff has had three freezers quit working this year and is seeking grants to replace one; the others have been repaired. That has been extra expenses for the organization.

The greatest need at The Beacon currently is health and beauty aids, he said. Items like soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, and shampoo.

But all donations are appreciated. He does ask that food items not be out of date.

On Monday, Wednesday, Friday, the staff gets produce, bakery and meat items from Walmart’s Feed America program.

“We put boxes near the front door on the inside at 9 a.m. and by 9:30 it’s gone,” he said.  He said people start lining up at 8 a.m. to get the food.

Once a month, they get produce boxes from the Kansas Food Bank.

“We give out food according to the size of the family,” he said.

” We have a standard amount on what we give out. And families can get a box of food two times a month.”

The Beacon also gives excess items to Feeding Families In His Name, a weekly free dinner that is given free at the First Methodist Church, Fort Scott, and other local pantries, if they request it.

“If I get a good buy on some product, meat, or egg noodles, or sometimes Feeding Families volunteers call to see if we have something.”

The Beacon is located at 525 E. Sixth, and hours of operation are  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

They are closed Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.