The prediction that those who receive SNAP benefits might not get them in November coupled with the ever-increasing price of food has led to an uptick in the number of people needing assistance with food in the North Texas area.

MasterKey Ministries Food Assistance Coordinator Crystal Brooks said the numbers for people in need are up at least 20 percent in recent weeks.

“We have a great increase in the need that is coming in,” she said. But they have also seen an increase in the number of corporations, businesses and people offering help.

MasterKey’s mission “is to stretch people’s finances. So, if they don’t have to worry about getting food then they can pay for their home and their car,” Brooks said.

Seniors can get food from MasterKey so they don’t have to decide between eating or paying for prescriptions.

While people are worried about how they are going to feed their families all month long if they normally depend on SNAP benefits that don’t come, some are worried about the year’s biggest food related holiday Thanksgiving.

Brooks said MasterKey will be doing its annual Thanksgiving Dinner giveaway Nov. 22

“It will start at Texoma Christian School parking lot, 3500 W. Houston Street in Sherman, and we sign people in and give them their turkey voucher and then we will release them over to Harvest Time Church, 222 South FM 1417 in Sherman, and the distribution will start at 8 a.m. and go through 11:30 a.m.,” she said.

Those who wish to participate simply need to bring an ID and if they have been through the MasterKey giveaway before, they can bring their MasterKey issued barcode. They expect to serve around 1,000 families this year. Last year they served 850 families.

They will get the whole meal in a box plus extras, Brooks said. She said Mrs. Baird’s bread has given them bread to pass along and they will have different kinds of meats, cereals, and sweets.

“We usually give out between 75 and 125 pounds of food per family,” she said.

Not Just a Holiday Option

However, MasterKey understands that families don’t just eat on holidays so they offer food distribution services regularly.

She said they are seeing a major increase in the number of people who are showing up for the weekly food distribution.

MasterKey provides food distribution every weekend.

On Fridays from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Harvest Time Church, 222 S. Heritage Parkway in Sherman and from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at the same address.

Brooks said they don’t only see people from Sherman or Denison in their drive through lines. They see and welcome anyone who is need or for whom help with their food budget would allow them the resources to pay for other needs like housing, transportation or medicine.

“We have people from Bonham and Whitesboro as well as Denton and other places,” Brooks said.

What to give if you are able

The growing need has been met with a growing list of people who want to help. MasterKey can provide a way for people to do that.

A lot of families need foods that children can grab and go or easily make for themselves if the parents are working.

Brooks said that includes things like soups, canned pastas or meats, snacks like chips and crackers, not every meal can be a full sit-down dinner cooked from scratch. They need some connivence things as well.

She said MasterKey and most other food banks are well stocked on peanut butter at the moment. However, the things that one might eat with the peanut butter like bread or crackers or jams and jelly are welcomed donations.

They also need fresh things to give out to families like eggs, butter, milk, hot and cold cereal, and meat.