Your help is a blessing to Robbie

Five years ago, Robbie, 64, moved here from Chicago along with his beloved dog, a 15-year-old Shih Tzu named Chub Chub.

You may have run into the duo at Ledges State Park, where Robbie enjoys fishing and hiking and Chub Chub loves to walk and sniff.  

After a stroll outside, Robbie’s favorite things to cook for dinner are pork chops or chicken wings. What makes that possible is the Bethesda Community Food Pantry, a Food Bank of Iowa partner.  

There, Robbie can access healthy food, like proteins, to make well-balanced meals.   

“[Food Bank of Iowa] has been helping me out since I retired,” Robbie explains. “I believe this program and all programs like it are necessary. We need them.” 

Since retiring, Robbie has sought part-time work to help supplement his limited fixed income. But he says it’s difficult to find work that can accommodate his health concerns.  

In the meantime, Robbie is grateful for food access through his local pantry. Your support means a lot to him.  

“When it comes down to it . . . we need to help each other,” he says. “I didn’t know what I was going to do after I retired . . . I believe [the help] is a blessing!”