Families have to eat, and in uncertain times such as these — when 297,800 Iowans are facing hunger according to Feeding America — communities need to come together as often as they can.

That’s exactly what Living Faith Methodist Church has been attempting to do by helping the community with their mobile food drives. Church Secretary Karen Mixdorf estimated 80 families were served meals in the month of March, meaning that this recent food drive more than doubled families served than their last, with their estimation coming in at 191.

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank will be collecting this data in the future.

“We appreciate everyone’s willingness to complete the paperwork when they arrive on Wednesday. This only has to be completed once a year. As we progress, returning participants will only need to be checked off the list and only new ones will need to complete the papers,” Mixdorf said. “Participants often ask what documentation they need to bring with them. None is required… As stated previously, we appreciate everyone’s patience. The people who drove through were overwhelmingly positive and thankful.”

The food given out during the drive included a dry box with rice, beans and cereal, a produce box with apples, celery, and oranges, a bag of oranges, one bag of potatoes, a whole frozen chicken, frozen taco meat, a fresh pineapple, a bag of frozen blueberries and a salad.

Also included were choices of other frozen meats like ground beef, pork chops and pepperoni.

With such a large turnout, Mixdorf provided advice for families attending in the future as to how to best get in line for maximum efficiency.

“It would be helpful in the future if cars would line up on 11th Street heading west only. We want to be careful that we aren’t lined up on Highway 63,” she said. “We recommend that drivers come east on 13th Street, turn south on Park, and then turn west on 11th Street.”

A total of 38 volunteers came to help with the process including four to five volunteers from the Northeast Iowa Food bank, Cheryl Bruene – Iowa State Extension Office in Tama County, Veronica Calderon – MICA, Sue Carnahan, Judy Dunsmoor, Richard Dunsmoor, Cheryl Goos, Brian Hanus, Deb Hanus, Gretchen Hanus, Preston Hanus (student), Luther Heller, Sue Hughes, Melissa Jesina, Morgan Jesina (student), Spencer Jesina (Student), Connie Ledvina

Lori Johnson, Jill Mack (Pastor), Randy Mack, Melissa Massengale – Tama County Public Health, Karen Mixdorf, Galen Musgrave, Michelle Musgrave, Sophie Musgrave (student), Lori Nekola, George Nemitz, Betty Santema, Jenny Schlabaugh, Luke Schlabaugh (student), Paige Schlabaugh (student), Rhonda Shaw, Sara Sorenson – Iowa State Extension Office in Tama, Danny Vodochodsky, Teresa Vodochodsky, Barb Walz, Larry Walz, Chris Wilson and Shannon Zoffka – Tama County public Health

“We are so thankful for our volunteers. Many people are needed to make this work,” Mixdorf said.

In the future, anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to contact the church office at 641-484-2204.

CUTLINE: Volunteers at the United Faith Methodist Mobile Food Drive prepared to hand out boxes of food to families. Photo by Cyote Williams

Volunteer and Pastor Jill Mack assisting a family during the mobile food drive. Photo by Cyote Williams