By Amber Wright, Development and Marketing Coordinator
As we approach August 1st, The Foodbank, Inc. is preparing for a significant transition. Our weekly Drive Thru, which has been a beacon of support for thousands of families over the past several years, will be closing. This change marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in our commitment to fighting hunger and serving our community.
Adapting to Meet Emergency Needs
When we initially built the Drive Thru in 2018, our vision was to use it primarily for senior box distribution and pop-up distributions. Little did we know that it would become a lifeline for our community during times of unprecedented challenges.
In 2019, when the devastating Memorial Day tornadoes struck our region, we quickly adapted our Drive Thru to meet the emergency needs of those affected. It proved to be an invaluable resource, providing essential food and supplies to families in crisis when area pantries were not equipped to meet the overnight surge in need.
Just as we were about to wind down the Drive Thru operations, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Overnight, nearly half of our partner agencies had to shut down, while the demand for assistance more than doubled. Once again, we adapted swiftly to meet the growing need. We opened our Drive Thru twice a day, four days a week, with the National Guard stepping in to help distribute food. At the peak of the crisis, we were serving as many as 740 families every two hours, averaging up to 1,480 families a day.
A Network Rebuilt and Stronger Than Ever
Now, four years later, our network of partner agencies has bounced back, stronger and more resilient than before. We have gradually scaled back the Drive Thru to one day a week, serving about 400 families each Wednesday. Our expanded network of partner agencies is fully operational, ready to serve their communities with shorter wait times and more personalized services. Many of these agencies even offer a choice pantry model, allowing individuals to select the foods they prefer.
Returning to Our Original Mission
With our partner agencies fully equipped to meet the needs of their communities, it is time for our Drive Thru to return to its original purpose. Starting August 1st, we will be dedicating the Drive Thru to serving seniors in our CSFP senior box program. This shift allows us to focus on providing specialized support to our senior community while ensuring that all families continue to have access to nutritious food through our partner agencies.
Just like before, we will continue to support our network of 119 partner agencies. The only change is that now we provide our partners with food completely free of charge. We will also continue to operate our monthly mobile pantries, our CSFP Senior Box Program, and our Good-to-Go Backpack program.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who played a role in the success of our Drive Thru. From our dedicated staff and volunteers to the National Guard and our incredible community supporters, your unwavering commitment has made a profound impact. Together, we have weathered storms and a global pandemic, proving the power of collective action.
Looking Ahead
As we close this chapter, we remain committed to eliminating hunger and its root causes. We encourage everyone who has been using our Drive Thru to connect with our partner agencies, where you will find shorter wait times and often the opportunity to choose the foods that best meet your needs.
Our Pantry Locator Tool will connect you to local pantries simply by typing in your ZIP code. You can also find a schedule for our mobile pantries, which will continue to operate as normal, and for income-eligible seniors, we are still accepting applications for our CSFP Senior Box program.
We are excited about this new phase and the continued collaboration with our partner agencies. By working together, we can create a stronger, more resilient community where everyone has access to the food they need.
Thank you for your support and understanding as we make this important transition. We look forward to continuing to serve you with dedication and compassion.
Together, we are stronger. Together, we will continue to make a difference.
And together, we can ensure that no one goes hungry.
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