Charles City Mobile Food Pantry to Up Food Available for December Distribution
Turnout for November’s Charles City Mobile Food Pantry was the largest ever for the one-day distribution of food to those in need.
Organizer Jen Burton says there were 438 households represented at the Floyd County Fairgrounds on November 5th, well above their normal first-Wednesday-of-the-month average of about 350 households.
Given the interruption of November SNAP benefits to some 270,000 Iowans, Burton says she was not surprised by the increased traffic.
Despite upping their food supply from the Northeast Iowa Food Bank (NEIFB) in anticipation of the increased demand, 380 received the full amount of food while the remaining 58 received whatever they had left.
Burton says she is working with the NEIFB to avoid that shortfall for their December 3rd mobile food pantry and have settled on 445 households worth of food, more than Charles City has ever received previously.
Burton notes that “Running out of food last month might have discouraged families to come out again. That won’t be the case this time and I hope people can make it.”
She adds, “Are the lines long? Yes, however the volunteers do their best. We are ALL volunteers including me. There will be volunteers there earlier in December for client registration and the food bank is sending help with three NEIFB team members. “
To volunteer, contact Burton at 641-220-1769.
