×

Relieving food insecurity

Mobile Food Bank of Iowa to return to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Feb. 21

—File photo Volunteers from across the community came out to help feed a need in association with the mobile Food Bank of Iowa last December. This will be the first mobile food pantry to be held at St. Thomas in 2017. According to organizers, the next mobile food pantry will be held on February 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.

The Mobile Food Bank of Iowa will return to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to help individuals overcome food insecurity.

Individuals are encouraged to bring bags, laundry baskets, or boxes to carry their food in. No I.D. is required.

According to the Iowa State University Extension, in food insecure households, access to food is limited by lack of money or other resources. A food secure household has access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members.

The Food Bank of Iowa has visited St. Thomas every other month since June of 2016 to provide Hamilton, Wright, Story, Franklin, and Webster County residents with food assistance.

According to estimations from the ISU Extension, 2,020 individuals or 13.1 percent of the Hamilton County population, are living in food insecure households. The number of individuals statewide who are living in food insecure households is estimated at 389,250, or 12.6 percent of the state’s population.

Dan Hurt, Director of Religious Education at St. Thomas, explained the importance of the Mobile Food Bank of Iowa coming to Hamilton County.

“We noticed that there are a lot of people that don’t have the money or the means to get the food that they need so we thought the Iowa Food Bank would be a good way to bring that into our parish and help those families get food,” said Hurt. “Every time that we’ve had it so far, we’ve seen an increase of people come in. It’s been a great program so far.”

According to Jamie Ragland, Outreach Specialist at Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc., Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. is not able to provide the larger amount of food items as often. This program gives more people in the community a chance to get more consistent meal items.

“I think we do a good job at Upper Des Moines as far as the food pantry, but they still need more in between. We don’t have enough food to give out every week or so. This is a lot of food that would last them a lot longer than probably what they would get at any food pantry here in Hamilton County,” said Ragland.

The Food Bank of Iowa approved St. Thomas as a location for the mobile food bank in June of 2017. Since then, the parish has served as the location every other month for clients in need of food items such as fresh fruit, pastry items, and cereal.

Ragland explained that poverty and food insecurity impact a significant amount of households in Hamilton County.

“They have green and red counties. Green means that all the needs are being met as far as getting food out to the people in need, and we are in the red,” said Ragland. “We do this every other month right now.”

Organizers have seen the need for food items increase each new pantry event.

The October food pantry served an estimated 77 people. The December food pantry served over 150 people. As awareness about the program spreads, the number of people who utilize the food pantry increases.

Volunteers from the National Honor Society, Knights of Columbus, St. Thomas attendees, community members, 4-H, Boy Scouts, and high school wrestlers have all helped with the event as it has progressed and grown since June. All Cultures Equal provides translations of food items on signs to assist the growing, diverse communities who visit the mobile pantry.

According to organizers, volunteers are always welcome to assist at the Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. food panty and the mobile food pantry.

The Mobile Food Pantry Program is free of charge to individuals in need.

The food bank will be back at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish again on Tuesday, April 18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Call the Food Bank of Iowa at (515) 564-0330 for more information.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $3.46/week.

Subscribe Today