Food Room Update

Food Room October Update

• December 2020 Dates Are
• Friday, December 11
• Monday, December 14
• 9:00 a.m. – Noon, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

By Dwight Hart, Ministerial Alliance volunteer

Here is our monthly routine at the Schuyler County Food Room. 1.) The food comes from the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri in a semi and weighs an amount. 2.) Volunteers unload the semi and inventory the contents of the truck. 3.) All pallets are arranged for either boxing on Thursday or for distribution on Friday. 4.) The Thursday boxing team arrives and assembles boxes. 5.) Friday and Monday volunteers gather at opening time and spend the day, helping others. 6.) Records are finalized, and the Food Room is prepared for the beginning of the next distribution.

However, the October food delivery had an additional “twist” to the normal routine. A load of food was due on Friday, October 16, between 7 and 9 am. Making it convenient for the volunteers to unload the food. SURPRISE! The driver became lost and didn’t arrive until 3 p.m. Needless to say, convenience was lost, and the volunteers had to scramble to unload the additional 31,000 pounds of produce.

SURPRISE, AGAIN! It all worked. At the close of Monday’s distribution, more than 58,000 pounds were served to 193 families, having 503 family members. There were 19 new families visiting our food pantry.

We also give thanks to our friends at Northeast Missouri Caring Communities, who always help us. As a “play on words,” let me compare what someone once said, “That it takes lots of people to make a village.“

The Caring Communities staff is an important part of our village!“