MORGANTON, NC (WBTV) -
There was a long line Thursday at the First Methodist Church in downtown Morganton as folks gathered for a food giveaway.
281 families qualified through Burke United Christian Ministries to receive the aid from the 2nd Harvest Food bank. The mobile food pantry was sponsored by the church because officials said many people needed a helping hand.
Shelby Emory was there to get some food. "I can hardly make it on my disability check," she said. Emory said one big problem right now is how quickly gas prices are rising. She said it is affecting how much she can spend on food and medicine.
Navy veteran Gregory Fox said higher energy prices are not going to help the economy and especially hurts what he called "the common man." The gas price situation is one reason he said he needed to apply for the food aid.
Gas prices in some spots have jumped 50 cents in the past five weeks. Motorists who were filling up at a station on Highway 321 in Hickory said they have no choice but buy the gas. "We need it to get to work and get the kids to school," said one woman. "It's outrageous," said one man about the price.
Industry analysts say the pain at the pump will likely get worse in the coming weeks. The price of crude oil has jumped 20 percent in the past two months and refinery troubles in California will have a domino effect on prices on east coast, they say.
