It is a crisis. Orange County residents are struggling to make ends meet and feed their families. Rising gas prices and inflation are forcing people who never thought they would need help to seek it for the first time. Orange Congregations in Mission (OCIM) Samaritan Relief pantry has served 161 new households so far in 2008 as compared to 93 new households for the same time period in 2007. That's almost double what we saw for the same time period last year, and we are only halfway through 2008.

What can you do? You can help your neighbors in need by bringing non-perishable food items to the Yesterday and Today Frame Shop located in Daniel Boone Square in Hillsborough or to The Chapel Hill News office at 505 W. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill between now and July 31. We at OCIM are thrilled that these two businesses have partnered on the "Frame for Food" drive for the first time in order to bring more awareness to, and to make a bigger impact on, a need that has really taken on a new face this year.

For comparison, let's look at some more standard numbers from last year. In 2007, OCIM Samaritan Relief Ministry assisted 5,254 individuals, served 2,230 children, helped 3,461 individuals for food only, and served 2,099 households of which 308 were new households. Given the increase in new households we have seen this year, we anticipate seeing our numbers to continue to rise.

We won't be able to meet that need without your help.

As background, the "Frame for Food" drive was started by Yesterday and Today Frame Shop in Hillsborough a couple of years ago as a way to give back to the community that has supported their business for over 30 years.

For a donation of some non-perishable food items to the Food Drive customers get a discount on their next custom framing order at the Frame Shop -- just a little more incentive to get people to come in and donate.

As for the OCIM Samaritan Relief Ministry, it provides emergency food, clothes, and financial assistance for utilities, rent and medication to the citizens of northern Orange County.

The majority of the Samaritan Relief Ministry recipients are referred by the Orange County Department of Social Services, but we also receive referrals from pastors of our 47 member congregations, the Orange County Health Department, Orange County Schools, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Hillsborough Police Department and a variety of mental health agencies.

Please help us help Orange County residents out of this crisis. Stop by the Yesterday and Today Frame Shop in Hillsborough's Daniel Boone Square or The Chapel Hill News office at 505 W. Franklin St. today to drop off your non-perishable foods.

Let's not let our neighbors in need go without. Who knows when it may be you needing help?