Volunteers from United Faith Methodist Mobile Food Drive are ready to hand out boxes of food to families. Photo: Cyote Williams
Volunteer and pastor Jill Mack helps a family during a mobile food drive. Photo: Cyote Williams
Families need to be fed, and at such an uncertain time – when 297,800 Ioans are facing starvation according to Feeding America – communities need to come together as often as possible.
Living Faith Methodist Church is trying to do just that by helping the community through their mobile food drive. Church Secretary Karen Mixdorf estimates that food was served to 80 families in March, meaning that this recent food drive has served more than twice as many families as their last, bringing their estimate to 191.
Northeast Iowa Food Bank will collect this information in the future.
“When they arrive on Wednesday, we appreciate everyone's willingness to complete the paperwork. It must be done once a year. As we progress, returning participants only need to check from the list and only newcomers need to complete the paperwork. “ Myxdorf says. “Participants often ask what documentation to bring with them. None of that is required … As mentioned earlier, we appreciate the patience of everyone. Those who walked along the path were irresistibly positive and grateful.”
Food items provided during the drive included a dried box with rice, beans and cereals, a product box with apples, celery and oranges, a bag of oranges, a bag of potatoes, a whole frozen chicken, frozen taco meat, a fresh pineapple, A bag of frozen blueberries and a salad.
Other frozen meat choices also included ground beef, pork chops and pepperoni.
With such a large vote, Mixdorf has provided advice for future participating families on how to stay on the best line for maximum efficiency.
“It will be helpful in the future if cars only line west on 11th Street. We want to be careful that we do not line up on Highway 63.” He said. “We recommend that drivers turn east on 13th Street, head south toward the park, and then west on 11th Street.”
A total of 38 volunteers came to help with the process, including four to five volunteers from Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Cheryl Bruin – Iowa State Extension Office in Tama County, Veronica Calderon – MICA, Sue Carnahan, Judy Dansmur, Richard Dansmur, Brian Hanus, Dev Hanus, Gretchen Hanus, Preston Hanus (student), Luther Heller, Sue Hughes, Melissa Jessina, Morgan Jessina (student), Spencer Jessina (student), Connie Ledvina
Laurie Johnson, Jill Mack (pastor), Randy Mack, Melissa Massengel – Tama County Public Health, Karen Mixdorf, Galen Musgrave, Michelle Musgrave, Sophie Musgrave (student), Laurie Necola, George Nemtzba, George Schmidt, Betty Students (students), Page Schlabagh (students), Ronda Shaw, Sarah Sorenson – Iowa State Extension Office in Tamate, Danny Vodochdsky, Teresa Vodochdsky, Barb Wallace, Larry Wallace, Chris Wilson and Shannon Joffka – Tama County Publik
“We are very grateful for our volunteers. It takes a lot of people to do that. “ Myxdorf says.
In the future, anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to contact the church office at 641-484-2204.
CUTLINE: Volunteers from United Faith Methodist Mobile Food Drive are ready to hand out boxes of food to families. Photo: Cyote Williams
Volunteer and pastor Jill Mack helps a family during a mobile food drive. Photo: Cyote Williams
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Volunteers from United Faith Methodist Mobile Food Drive are ready to hand out boxes of food to families. Photo: Cyote Williams
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Volunteer and pastor Jill Mack helps a family during a mobile food drive. Photo: Cyote Williams
