Des Moines, IA, January 17, 2017 – The Food Bank of Iowa is coordinating a new Mobile Pantry in Hamilton County, partnering with Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell to fight hunger. The distributions will take place on the fourth Thursday of every other month, beginning on Thursday, January 26.

A Mobile Pantry is a farmers market style food distribution program, targeted toward counties with a need for additional pantry service. The Food Bank of Iowa delivers a truck with a variety of grocery products to a mobile pantry site, where volunteers unload, set up and distribute the food.

“We’re eager to get this mobile pantry started with Bethesda Lutheran Church,” said Tami Nielsen, regional partnership coordinator at the Food Bank of Iowa. “This extra resource will help children, families, and seniors to make ends meet, getting enough food to live a better life.”

All 99 counties in Iowa have some level of food insecurity, which means that an individual or family does not have reliable access to enough nutritious food. The Food Bank of Iowa estimates that there are more than 180,000 food insecure people within its service area of 55 counties, including Hamilton. According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap survey, the number of food insecure people in Hamilton County is 1,910, and the food insecurity rate is 12.4 percent.

“Nearly 2,000 people in Hamilton County are struggling with hunger,” said Matt Unger, program manager at the Food Bank of Iowa. “Throughout Iowa, every community includes people struggling with hunger. Cities, suburbs, and small towns all have the same reality: our neighbors are struggling. That’s why the Food Bank of Iowa is here to help.”
The Mobile Pantry is free and open to the public, and geared toward individuals in need of food assistance. Mobile Pantry attendees are encouraged to bring bags, laundry baskets or boxes to carry their food.

Food Bank of Iowa seeks additional partners to coordinate mobile pantry distributions in their communities. If an individual or organization would like to learn more or get involved, they should contact us at 515-564-0330 or visit www.foodbankiowa.org.

Bethesda Lutheran Church Mobile Pantry Information

Dates: fourth Thursday of every other month, beginning January 26
Time: 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Bethesda Lutheran Church, 439 Main St., Jewell, IA 50130

For media inquiries, contact Danny Akright, communications manager, Food Bank of Iowa, dakright@foodbankiowa.org or 515-564-0330.

To learn how you can help fight hunger in your community, visit www.foodbankiowa.org