Temporary food pantry placed outside Anson Elementary
Trending
Some of the free food pantries in Marshalltown are being under-utilized. The Iowa State University Extension Office of Marshall County wants to let residents know the pantries are available. To help with that mission, a temporary free food pantry was placed outside of Anson Elementary recently.
Extension County Director Amy Pieper and Program Coordinator Chelsea Llewellyn arrived at the elementary school on Thursday for the placement.
Pieper said the free pantries really help the people with low incomes, but which are considered too high to get food assistance.
"They are just over, but they are still food insecure," she said.
Llewellyn said there is already a food pantry inside Anson.
"The school pantries are not getting utilized how they would like them to," she said. "We're trying to draw attention outside to help lead them inside."
The outdoor pantry, crafted by Rotary Club of Marshalltown member Pat Lowry, is available to anyone in Marshalltown -- not just families whose children are students in the district. The temporary pantry will be outside Anson for three to four months before it is moved to another school. Pieper said she was not sure which school with an under-utilized indoor pantry will receive the temporary outdoor pantry next. Anson Elementary School Resource Specialist Jayden Sellers said all of the MCSD elementary schools have food pantries now.
Anson Elementary Principal Ronnie Manis said the pantry inside the school also includes a freezer, which they do their best to keep full.
"We don't have any parameters -- if you use ours on Monday and need it again on Tuesday, that's fine," he said. "We have that luxury."
Manis said people who use the pantry inside the school will need to fill out paperwork once a year, stating whether or not they receive SNAP and about the demographics of the household. He said people only need to call the school and let them know about their need for food. Last month, Manis said seven or eight families used the indoor pantry, which was an increase.
Pieper said while the school will have some food in the temporary pantry, the general public is welcome to donate, also.
Lowry said one thing to consider about free pantry donations in the winter months is to be cautious with canned foods. At one of the Rotary's food pantry locations, he saw some canned foods which had frozen. Upon opening after thawing, the contents were mush. Llewellyn added sometimes the canned products can explode when they freeze.
Lowry said Rotary is placing more focus on food insecurity. They conduct quarterly food drives for the free pantries. The last drive was in September, and the next will occur in December.
He said sometimes people have a hard time accepting gifts. This project, Lowry said, can serve as a way to communicate the help that is available.
"Food prices are up," he said. "Do you keep the heat on or put food on the table? Some of these kids will eat breakfast and lunch, and not get another meal until breakfast at school the next day. This is a nice option."
------
Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.