LEBANON — The Warren County United Way said Tuesdayit plans to fund two new agencies and increase allocations to food pantries by nearly 10 percent in 2002.

        “The food pantries have been hardest hit with increased needs since the economy started to slow down,” said John Smith, chairman of the United Way's allocations committee.

        The two new agencies being funded are Interfaith Hospitality Network ($8,000) and Lebanon Food Pantry ($5,500). Interfaith Hospitality Network is a group of 13 churches that takes turns hosting homeless families.

        Ruth Kreeger, a trustee with the Lebanon Food Pantry, called the United Way funding “very important.”

        “This will really help us because we're having so many more people coming to the pantry. And we're expecting even more (in 2002) than last year,” Mrs. Kreeger said.

        The food pantry served more than 1,100 families in 2001 — up by 150 families over the previous year.

        “There have been a number of layoffs, and that accounts for much of the increased need,” Mrs. Kreeger said. “We've always received great help from churches and other donors, but it wasn't enough to carry us because of the increased needs.”

        Warren County United Way raised $2.2 million in 2001. The board approved a 6 percent increase over 2001 in allocations to agencies and programs. The United Way funds 29 member agencies.

        Other community-service agencies that received funding include:

        Franklin Community Services ($117,000), Kings Local Community Services ($17,950), Lebanon Community Services ($35,000), Little Miami Food Services ($11,500), FAITH Emergency Services in Mason ($35,000), the Salvation Army ($48,626), Shared Harvest Food Bank ($21,800) and Waynesville Community Services ($12,000).

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