Mobile food pantries bring monthly help countywide

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The Food Bank of Iowa provides families with nutritious food — with the help of partner volunteers.

Mobile food pantries run on volunteer steam. Donations from many individuals and businesses sponsor the purchase of groceries to give out, and local volunteers provide the labor at the distribution site.

Mobile food pantries are different from permanent brick-and-mortar sites. On the day of the scheduled distribution, the Food Bank of Iowa arrives at the site with fresh fruits and vegetables, boxed and canned goods, bread, eggs, dairy products and frozen foods. Most mobile food pantries last about 90 minutes, during which time volunteers help participants load groceries into their vehicles.

In our area, mobile food pantries are generally once a month in each location. Sites include Adel’s New Hope Church, Earlham’s American Legion, Panora’s Veterans Auditorium, Perry’s Crossroads Church and — on alternating months — Dallas County Hospital, Redfield’s City Hall and West Des Moines’ Crossroads Church.

The current schedule, including dates times, and street addresses of mobile food pantries, can be found on the Food Bank of Iowa website.

Volunteer help is always welcome — both at local pantry sites and at the Food Bank of Iowa warehouse in Des Moines. Volunteers are also needed to sew the T-shirt tote bags used to load up the food. For more information, call 515-564-0330.

Ann Cochran is the health navigation coordinator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.

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