The Dallas County Hospital Foundation, in partnership with the Food Bank of Iowa and the Hunger-Free Dallas County initiative, hosted its spring mobile food pantry Wednesday from 4–6 p.m. in the hospital’s north parking lot, and the day’s cooler temperatures did not deter the event’s usual large attendance.
“I think it was warmer in February when we did this the last time,” said Macinzie McFarland, DCH community and marketing manager, who directed arriving traffic to “the man in the yellow suspenders.”
The DCH Foundation volunteers used a drive-through method in order to save people from discomfort in the cool temperatures and to promote an orderly distribution. Vehicles ringed the hospital’s north parking lot and even spilled out into Iowa Street as the two-hour event progressed.
An additional item was freely available at Wednesday’s pantry: a reusable grocery bag was given to the people in every car passing through the donation line. The bags were donated by a partnership between the DCH Foundation and Alliant Energy.
Mobile food pantries offers free food to anyone in need of assistance. The events are held the last Wednesday of every other month at DCH as part of the Hunger-Free Dallas County initiative.
Jennifer Walters, population health administrator with the Dallas County Public Health Nursing Services, said about 6,500 people in Dallas County are food insecure. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a food-insecure person or family frequently runs out of food, skips meals, cannot afford balanced meals or reduces portions in order to feed children.
A recent 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. In towns like Perry and Minburn, more than 40 percent of the population is classified as income vulnerable.
For people whose needs exceed the every-60-day schedule of mobile food pantries, the Mercy Clinic and DCH Foundation Blessing Box is available as a stopgap in the hospital’s south parking lot.
“Take what you need, and leave what you can.” That is the motto of the Blessing Box, a charitable joint venture launched in November. The box is kept stocked with food free for the taking and for the giving.
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, such as the Dallas County Hospital Foundation.
A number of passionate volunteers and anti-hunger groups in Dallas County are partners in the Hunger-Free Dallas County project. The groups include:
Adel Good Samaritan Food Pantry
Dallas County Community Services
Dallas Center Food Pantry
Dallas County Hospital
Dallas County Public Health Department
Eat Greater Des Moines
Food Bank of Iowa
Heart of Iowa Regional Transportation Authority (HIRTA)
Hy-Vee
Mercy Health Network
New Opportunities
Perry Area Food Pantry
United Way of Central Iowa
Waukee Area Christian Services
For more information about Hunger-Free Dallas County or to volunteer, call Jennifer Walters at 515-993-1764 or email jennifer.walters@dallascountyiowa.gov. 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.
