MARTIN COUNTY — A Palm City chiropractor’s act of charity may have started a trend that, if it keeps expanding, may make life a whole lot easier for the growing number of hungry in the county.

And now a Stuart massage therapist, Richard Hays of Tao Chi Massage and Skin Care, is picking up the torch.

During September, Hays’ first-time clients can trade five items of food for 30 minutes of massage. Returning clients can buy an extra 30 minutes for the same donation.

All donations will benefit the House of Hope, an organization that provides food, clothing, case management and emergency financial assistance to people who work hard, but find themselves unable to make ends meet.

In July, chiropractor Kevin M. Grimes traded his diagnostic services for food items.

It began as a Thursday morning whim, grew to a day-long event and then he had to work people in for a week. The results were 1,000 pounds of food for the House of Hope food pantry, enough to feed 50 families, said Kathy Carmody, the organization’s senior program manager for food donations.

“We are now seeing up to 50 people a day (seeking food), when we used to see maybe 20 or 30,” Carmody said.

Food banks traditionally have problems meeting the needs of people during the summer months, but with today’s economy, there is a new face of desperation at the door.

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