The Perry Area Emergency Food Council is now offering on-campus outreach services to the students of the DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy.
COVID-19 restrictions altered the original plans for the satellite pantry, but Perry Food Pantry Site Manager Lou Hoger and DMACC Perry Director Eddie Diaz created an alternative solution.
Students may pick up DMACC Perry Pantry tote bags on campus and bring them to the pantry to be filled by pantry volunteers. Hoger said he also plans to have some Grab-and-Go tote bags on campus, loaded with non-perishables for students.
As the poster for the new outreach said, “Low on food? Let our staff fill your Tote Bag with some GOOD STUFF! Tuesdays 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and Thursdays 1-3:30 p.m.”
The DMACC Perry Pantry tote bags were provided through a grant from Thrivent Financial Services, and funds for the purchase of food were provided by a Bock Family Foundation grant.
On hand for Friday’s celebration of the new outreach pantry were Hoger, Diaz, Perry Area Emergency Food Council Board President Steve Golay, Council Treasurer Carol Johnson, Council Board members Tim Farmer, Brenda Golay and Norm Adamson, Perry Food Pantry volunteers Beth Schmidt, Pete Malmburg, Kathy Fox, Lois Hoger and Rick Hoesing and DMACC’s Jody Lutterman and Angela Diaz.
