Volunteers work to unload and distribute food at the first distribution event held by the Tama County Mobile Food Pantry at Living Faith United Methodist Church in Tama. – Photo provided

Last Wednesday the Northeast Iowa Food Bank (NEIFB), in partnership with the Tama County ISU Extension Office and Living Faith United Methodist Church, held a mobile food pantry distribution in Tama.

The NEIFB Mobile Food Pantry program provides food to under-served rural communities in northeast Iowa. The pantries are held once a month and are hosted in churches, libraries, community centers, schools or other public central locations. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank provides a loaded truck of food that is then unloaded and distributed by local volunteer community members to those in need.

“Hunger exists in every community in northeast Iowa,” NEIFB Director Barb Prather said. “We want all who need food to have access to receiving it so that no one goes hungry. We appreciate the Tama County community leaders and volunteers who are making a difference in their community by stepping in to fill a need. Together we are truly impacting lives.”

The pantry will continue operating out of the Living Faith United Methodist Church from 4:30 to 6:30 every fourth Wednesday of the month.

The mobile pantry service will seek to complement the South Tama County Food Pantry that’s open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tue-Thur and the food pantry at the Tama Meskwaki Celebration Church in Tama that’s open from 5-7 p.m. Mon-Thur.

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank distributes nutritious food and grocery products to 170 nonprofit organizations and programs that help families and individuals with food assistance. For 40 years, the Food Bank has alleviated hunger and provided nutrition education through its programs. Last year, the Food Bank distributed more than 9.4 million meals within a 16-county service area.