The Dallas County Hospital, in partnership with the Food Bank of Iowa and the Hunger-Free Dallas County initiative, hosted its June mobile food pantry Wednesday in the hospital’s north parking parking lot, feeding hundreds of the local needy.
The drive-through arrangement made for a smoother service of the many people carrying away food. The mobile food pantry offers free food monthly to anyone in need of assistance, with the location alternating between DCH and the Crossroads Church is located at 2810 First Ave. in Perry.
A pre-pandemic study by the United Way of Central Iowa found about one-third of Iowans do not earn enough money to cover the basic costs of living, such as food. Income vulnerability in towns like Perry and Minburn affects as much as 40% of the population, the study found, and the current economic downturn has increased the needs.
The Hunger-Free Dallas County project was born in the fall of 2014 through a partnership of the Hunger-Free Iowa Initiative, the Dallas County Department of Health and local volunteers interested in battling hunger in Dallas County.
For more information about Hunger-Free Dallas County or to volunteer, call 515-993-1764 or email mmcfarland@dallascohospital.org. For more information about the Hunger-Free Iowa initiative, visit the Hunger-Free Iowa website, or call the Food Bank of Iowa at 515-564-0330.
