Community Outreach Ministries' Polk County Food Pantry recently received more than 7,400 ponds of food donated from the community through the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger event on May 13. The food, valued at over $12,500, comes at a crucial time, according to COM spokesperson Laura Kester.
The Polk County Food Pantry provides meals for 500-700 families every month and is in continual need of donations such as these, Kester said.
"This was the 25th anniversary of the NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive," she said. "It is the largest national one-day food drive, and it is held every year on the second Saturday in May. Residents leave out non-perishable food donations on that day for postal workers to pick up on their routes."
Kester said it is also COM’s largest food drive of the year.
"It helps (the pantry) stretch every food dollar and a (brings in a) much wider variety of food," she said.
Kester said summer presents unique challenges and opportunities for the food pantry.
"Now that it is summer and kids are out of school, there are new needs and ways to get involved," she said. "There is more need to provide meals for low-income families who are dependent on the free lunch programs of public schools. There are also more opportunities for families to come volunteer together at COM so parents can teach children the importance of giving back to the community."
Kim Wilson, COM's director, said overall, COM wants to offer a “huge thank you to the community.” “This display of generosity does make a big impact on the food pantry,” she said.
About Community Outreach Ministries
COM operates as the food pantry for Polk County and serves as the local Salvation Army Extension Unit. Its services to the community include, but are not limited to, the Golden Rule Thrift Store, weekly meal deliveries to the elderly and disabled and meeting benevolence needs of homeless or financially struggling individuals.
For more information, call Community Outreach Ministries at 326-2769, email combolivar2014@gmail.com or visit bolivarcom.org.
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