Access Food Pantry Helps Thousands

People in Jackson County have had an increased need for food since COVID-19.

The monthly rate of people who get help increases about 10% around the holidays.

Newswatch 12's tyler ridgle followed up with access food pantry to find out how people are receiving help this holiday season.

Tyler says: the access food pantry in jackson county has helped people since the pandemic and it's not slowing down for the holiday season.

Vo: nutrition director marcee champion says there has been an up-tick in the amount of people access serves.

She says typically access can provide food thousands in jackson county.

Sot: numbers vary throughout the year depending depending on the season and what's going on and of course this year was really odd so we has some pretty significant up-ticks this summer with covid.

Vo: although champion says 5 thousand is a significant number -- the amount of people receiving food around the holidays increase by about 10 percent.

Tyler says: access will be closed through thanksgiving but watch 12.

The chamber of medford and jackson county is encouraging people to shop local this holiday season.

Officials say some businesses are concerned about shutting their doors permanently.

That's why the chamber is urging people to be sensitive to this situation and help them as much as possible.

Some suggestions include buying gift certificates from local businesses.

"i know frustrations are running high with just about everything in, in life.

But, uh, i would certainly ask, especially this time of year, that, that people have patients with small business owners and do what they can to, uh, to support them."

Officials say shopping locally during the holidays is moreyear, thanks to your generous donations, newswatch 12 has been committed to making sure local children-in-need have had a warm coat for the winter.

With the coronavirus pandemic and the recent fires impacting our region, your help is needed now more than ever.

Go to kdrv dot com today to make a donation, where you can select the exact amount of brand new coats you'd like to provide for children in southern oregon.

So far the coats for kids campaign has raised more than 48-thousand dollars but we've still got a long way to go.

Just one more way newswatch 12 is watching out for you.

It has been three days since the shooting and death of 19-year old aidan ellison.

You know, he, he didn't deserve this.

He had his whole life ahead of him what aidan's mother is saying about how she and her