Cassandra Sisson and her son Quinn have started taking a closer look at their grocery bill.

"Oh definitely. We're a family of six so we always look for coupons and sales," said Sisson, a resident of Vienna.

But it's not just those cooking for large families.

"Everybody's trying to make their dollar go further these days," said Shirley Ott, another resident of Vienna out shopping for groceries.

According to the American Farm Bureau, it started during the first half of the year when oil prices spiked and food prices followed suit.

The Farm Bureau said the cost of a barrel of oil has fallen but food prices have not.

The number of people coming in to Old Man Rivers' Mission for food from the food pantry has doubled since last year. In the last six months, the number has more than doubled.

"People say I've never had to do this before but I need to feed my family," said Pat Riffle, director of Old Man Rivers' Mission.

Thanksgiving dinner is no exception.

"I'm checking to see if the turkeys are on sale," said Sisson.

The Farm Bureau said the cost of the traditional meal is up six percent from last year to $44.61.

Some economists said this is still affordable compared to past years but either way some experts said you also have the power to lower your bill.

"I like to tell clients when you go to a grocery store they are a business so they're out to make money. They're out to entice you to buy products," said Kim Sherlock Drayer, instructor of the Family Nutrition Program at the Washington County Ohio State University Extension office.

So create a menu for the week, check to see what ingredients you have at home and what else you need in order to avoid being sidetracked by those displays.

Find out if the store honors competitors prices and has unit pricing.

"Look up, look down, look for generic things, Look at the food label," she said.

Looking at the label can save you money and help you eat healthy.

"I can buy the cheaper green beans in the can and I can take them home and I can run water over it. I can rinse the sodium off. You don't have that as much with the frozen foods. They don't add those things to preserve it like with the canned goods," said Drayer.

Drayer said another way to stretch your dollar and not compromise nutrition is to replace something like meat in your diet which provides a lot of protein with beans. They provide protein and fiber and they could feed the same number if not more people.

"You can also use eggs unless cholesterol's a big issue for you," she said.

Another option is to order a $30 box of food complete with nutritionally balanced meals each month.

The box can feed a family of four up to a week or a senior citizen for a month.

"You're going to be getting about a $70 box of food if you went to the grocery store," said Christina Prunty, the on site coordinator for Great Food for All at Sand Hill United Methodist Church.

These programs are called Great Food for All and Angel Food Ministries.

The company doesn't have to pay for the distribution like grocery stores do. It comes directly from the manufacturer and then volunteers from local nonprofits handle the orders and distribution at no cost.

"The food is top quality restaurant grade food. What that means (is) there's no out of date or close to out of date (food)," said Prunty.

There are no income guidelines to place an order.

Whether you buy it here or there, some shoppers said the benefits far outweigh the costs.

"I don't think it's expensive and considering I mean what's better than a family dinner? It's worth it," said Ott.

The food distribution programs take orders monthly.

Washington County OSU Extension provided this list of Great Food for All and Angel Food Ministries host sites. You can also contact the company directly.

After that there is a list of numbers to call if you or someone you know is in need of immediate food assistance and where you can go to get a free hot meal.

GREAT FOOD FOR ALL
http://greatfoodforall.com
A company representative said you can collect-330 872-0155

Host Sites
Place Order & Pick Up

*** Contact Site For Order Information ***

The Celebration Center
922 Front Street
Marietta, OH 45750
740-374-5300

Church of the Nazarene
PO box 162
New Matamoras, OH 45767
740-865-3981
740-864-2120 fax
thepams@gmail.com

Sand Hill United Methodist Church
1295 Old River Road
Williamstown, WV 26187
304 464-4230

Smiths Chapel UMC
2033 State Route 83
Beverly, OH 45715
740 236-8244

Valley Harvest Church
104 Tennis Center Drive
Marietta, OH 45750
740-373-0867
www.valleyharvest.net

Vienna Church of God
Vienna, WV
304 295-3208

Winds of Change
Parkersburg, WV
304 488-1761

Food stamps are now being accepted.

ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES
1-877-FOOD-MINISTRY

Host Sites
Place Order & Pick Up

***Contact Site for more information***

BEVERLY Beverly Baptist Church (740) 984-2504 church
Beverly OH 45715 beverlybaptistchurch@verizon.net
To Place Order:
1st Saturday of Month 9:30 am – 11:00 am
1st & 2nd Wednesday 9:30 am – 11:00 am
1st & 2nd Thursday 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

MALTA Morgan County United Ministries (740) 962-5490
mcum@mcum.net

MARIETTA Second Congregational Church
(740) 373-4915
1855 Greene Street rlschultheis@yahoo.com
Marietta OH 45750
To Place Order: Call Luella (740) 373-0254 or Lori (740) 373-3516

St. Mary’s Catholic Church (740) 373-3643 church
506 Fourth Street http://www.stmarysmarietta.org/
Marietta OH 45750

PARKERSBURG First Christian Church
1400 Washington Avenue (304) 485-5253
Parkersburg, WV 26101 www.movpdoc.org

South Parkersburg Baptist Church
1655 Blizzard Drive (304) 699-2162
Parkersburg, WV 26101 www.spbc-wv.org

Fairview United Methodist
New England Ridge
Lubeck, WV 304-863-6423

WOODSFIELDFirst Baptist Church – Woodsfield (740) 472-1941

CASH,MONEY ORDER, FOOD STAMPS ACCEPTED, NO PERSONAL CHECKS (some locations allow)

If you need emergency food assistance you can call the Department of Job and Family Services in Washington County at 740-373-5513 or the Department of Health and Human Resources in Wood County at 304-420-2560.

For local food pantries in Wood County, contact Community Resources at 304-485-5525.

Washington County OSU Extension provided this list of food pantries in the county.

WASHINGTON COUNTY FOOD PANTRIES

Belpre Food Pantry & Thrift Shop
Washington Boulevard
Belpre, OH 45714
Jerry Gustin 740-423-0616
MWF 10:00 am - 11:30 am
MWF 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Beverly Waterford Food Pantry
St. Bernard’s Catholic Church
309 7th Street
Beverly, OH 45715
Paul Brown/Jo Teeters 984-4651
Tuesday evenings 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
2nd and 4th Thursday of Month 9:00 – 11:00 am

Marietta Community Food Pantry
First Congregational Church
318 Front Street
Marietta, OH 45750
Scott Britton 740-373-5741
Monday - Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Wednesday 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Lowell Area Mission Basket (LAMB)
309 Walnut Street
Lowell, OH 45744
Judy Gilham 740-896-3266 home
2nd and 4th Wednesday of Month 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Lower Salem Food Pantry
People’s Bank Building
102 Main Street
Lower Salem, OH
Ruth Griffin 740-585-2732 home
3rd Wednesday of Month 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Marietta Church of God Food Pantry
501 Colgate Drive
Marietta, OH 45750
Vicki Hite 740-373-4219 church
Last Friday of Month 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

GREAT FOOD FOR ALL
http://greatfoodforall.com/
phone: 330 872-0155

Host Sites
Place Order & Pick Up

*** Contact Site For Order Information ***

The Celebration Center
922 Front Street
Marietta, OH 45750
740-374-5300

Church of the Nazarene
PO box 162
New Matamoras, OH 45767
740-865-3981
740-864-2120 fax
thepams@gmail.com

Sand Hill United Methodist Church
1295 Old River Road
Williamstown, WV 26187
304 464-4230

Smiths Chapel UMC
2033 State Route 83
Beverly, OH 45715
740 236-8244

Valley Harvest Church
104 Tennis Center Drive
Marietta, OH 45750
740-373-0867
www.valleyharvest.net

Vienna Church of God
Vienna, WV
304 295-3208

Winds of Change
Parkersburg, WV
304 488-1761

Food stamps are now being accepted.

ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES
1-877-FOOD-MINISTRY

Host Sites
Place Order & Pick Up

***Contact Site for more information***

BEVERLY Beverly Baptist Church (740) 984-2504 church
Beverly OH 45715 beverlybaptistchurch@verizon.net
To Place Order:
1st Saturday of Month 9:30 am – 11:00 am
1st & 2nd Wednesday 9:30 am – 11:00 am
1st & 2nd Thursday 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

MALTA Morgan County United Ministries (740) 962-5490
mcum@mcum.net

MARIETTA Second Congregational Church
(740) 373-4915
1855 Greene Street rlschultheis@yahoo.com
Marietta OH 45750
To Place Order: Call Luella (740) 373-0254 or Lori (740) 373-3516

St. Mary’s Catholic Church (740) 373-3643 church
506 Fourth Street http://www.stmarysmarietta.org/
Marietta OH 45750

PARKERSBURG First Christian Church
1400 Washington Avenue (304) 485-5253
Parkersburg, WV 26101 www.movpdoc.org

South Parkersburg Baptist Church
1655 Blizzard Drive (304) 699-2162
Parkersburg, WV 26101 www.spbc-wv.org

WOODSFIELD First Baptist Church – Woodsfield (740) 472-1941

CASH,MONEY ORDER, FOOD STAMPS ACCEPTED, NO PERSONAL CHECKS (some locations allow)

The following is compiled from a list the Wood County WVU Extension office provided of free hot meals.

Salvation Army
534 5th Street
Monday through Friday
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
304-485-0669
Thanksgiving Day
12-2p.m.

Friendship Kitchen at North Parkersburg Baptist Church
3109 Emerson Ave.
Tuesdays through Thursday
11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
304-428-3293

South Parkersburg United Methodist Church
1813 Rayon Dr.
3rd Saturday of each month
11:30 a.m.

Lubeck United Methodist Church
3rd Saturday when there are 5 Sundays in a month.
12 p.m.
304-863-6082

St. Paul United Methodist Church
219 11th Street (corner of Market St.)
3rd Sunday of each month
12:15 p.m.
304-422-2552

Beechwood Presbyterian Church
703 30th Street
4th Sunday of each month
4:30 p.m.
304-422-6067