MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVRC Media, Titan Roofing, and the United Way of Monongalia and Preston County Helpful Harvest Food Program are teaming up to collect nonperishable food items for those affected by the federal government shutdown.

The staff from WAJR, WVAQ, WKKW, Titan Roofing, and local agencies will be at the University Town Centre Giant Eagle from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, November 7, collecting nonperishable food items and cash.

Christian Help recently celebrated 50 years of supporting those in need in the Morgantown area. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” executive director Colleen Lankford said over the 50 years they have become a hub for children and families to satisfy needs ranging from food, clothes for a variety of needs, life skills classes, and emergency financial assistance.

“We served 1,277 households last year in the emergency financial services area,” Lankford said. “We facilitated $99,736 worth of support to 1,000 different families.”

Before the government shutdown there was consistent demand for food assistance, and data from the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties shows more than 15 percent of families are living in poverty.

“When you look at the overall numbers, you’ll see 16 percent of our population has verifiable difficulty in obtaining enough food and nutritional support for themselves,” Lankford said.

Lankford said recently those numbers have increased significantly in the last 30 days. Those numbers could increase again with the delay in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the federal government shutdown.

“Typically in a calendar year like 2024, we served 53 people per week,” Lankford said. “What we have seen recently is a 53 percent increase, or 81 individuals, during the second week of October.”

Lankford said many of the faces asking for help are new ones, and some of the family units seeking assistance are larger in size.

“The majority of those individuals were new to our services—they had never used our pantry services in the past,” Lankford said. “So, we are seeing a spike.”

At the event Friday, Titan Roofing is sponsoring a $1,000 cash prize for one lucky person that comes to University Town Centre during the event. Donations are not required to enter, but you do have to register to win. For those considering a donation, here are some ideas: peanut butter, pasta and sauce, canned meat or fruit, instant potatoes, rice, soup, granola bars, or shelf-stable/powdered milk.

“Donations are definitely welcome if you want to, and they would be appreciated,” Titan Roofing owner James Sanders said. “We’re trying to move the needles on this—somebody is going to be $1,000 richer by just stopping by and meeting us.”