Busses don't run in Springfield on Saturdays.

It's a matter of little concern for those with access to other transportation, but this fact poses a problem for the 110 families to soon be affected by the closing of the Daily Bread Food Pantry in southern Springfield.

Those in need of the pantry's services will be forced to make trips to across town for alternative resources, but will have limited opportunities because of inconvenient public transportation. The impending close of the pantry has bred a sense of urgency throughout the community.

Daily Bread South is one of three pantries run by Children's Rescue Center (CRC), a Christian organization committed to serving the children and families in Springfield through a variety of services. In addition to providing the venues for the food pantries, CRC funds a ministry to single mothers, a fair trade coffee shop called the Un Mundo Café , and two afterschool programs-the Ark and the Rock.

After losing a large percentage of its support, mainly through grants, CRC was forced to cut funding of the south pantry. Due to the economic recession, the CRC has already shut down one of its pantries in the Limecrest neighborhood and has suspended its Christian Legal Aid service.

Liz Harris, the director of the Daily Bread pantries, said that the south pantry will close if they are unable to produce $6,000, the cost of utilities for a year. Though the pantry is stocked entirely by private donations, CRC must pay $500 each month for utilities.

So far, CRC has been able to generate $2,000, which will allow it to remain in operation for the next four months. The south pantry will close its doors, however, if the remaining $4,000 is not raised by May.

Daily Bread South has been a force in the community since its founding by Harris and Betty Patton nine years ago. The pantry has grown from a small cupboard serving only a few people to a sizeable pantry that fills the entire lower level of a church building.

According to Sarah Gombis, who runs and organizes the north pantry at Midtown Christian Community, the concern of Harris and Patton for the community is remarkable.

"Through the years, Liz and Betty have formed relationships with many, and started a Wednesday morning Bible study for women," said Gombis.

One thing that sets the Daily Bread pantries apart from other pantries is their focus on meeting the physical and spiritual needs of their beneficiaries. "We don't just give them food-we give them the Gospel too," said Harris.

When the pantry is open, CRC has volunteers on hand to talk and pray with those in need of spiritual support. Daily Bread also gives out free Bibles, and can put beneficiaries in contact with local churches.

CRC is not the only ministry that has taken a hit due to the economic downturn. Jack Legg, a Cedarville graduate who ministers in Springfield through the Mulberry House, commented that the recession has caused Springfield's two main organizations, the Nehemiah Foundation and the Turner Foundation, to cut back funding on various ministry projects.

Ministries that do not have enough financial support from churches and individuals can apply for grants from these community foundations each year. When the stock market crashed, wealthy benefactors who had relied on stocks to generate money had to withdraw their support from the foundations.

As a result, the foundations that had provided grants to Springfield's ministries in the past have refused funding on new projects, and have cut back funds for existing projects as well.

"I know of several ministries here in town whose plans for 2009 have been put on hold or canceled completely, simply because they could not obtain funding," said Legg.

There is much Cedarville students could do to help our neighbors in the Springfield area. Harris mentioned that there is a need for volunteers to stock shelves, or simply come and mingle when the pantry is open. Daily Bread South is open to hand out food every third Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Gombis also offered a suggestion for what students could do to provide financially: "[What] if each student sacrificed one cup of coffee and gave to money to the pantry? Two dollars times 3,000 students equals an open pantry. How hard would that be?"