Mobile Pantry hopes to serve more seniors

Monday, April 29, 2019
Solomon Hare appears to be overwhelmed by the abundance of yogurt smoothies available Saturday at the Mobile Pantry event in Culbertson. The next local Mobile Pantry will be in June in McCook; the location will be announced.
Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

CULBERTSON, Neb. — Mobile Pantry coordinators are hoping that more senior citizens will take advantage of the Mobile events in Hitchcock and Red Willow counties.

Coordinators JoLyn Hare of Culbertson and Barb Ostrum of McCook were pleased with the turnout to the Mobile Pantry in Culbertson Saturday, but are still wishing that more senior citizens would take advantage of the Mobile events. While there is usually young "carry-out" help with boxes, it is wise if the elderly bring their own "muscle."

JoLyn's and Barb's corps of volunteers Saturday unloaded, sorted and distributed 9,134 pounds of food to 176 households, amounting to about 396 people. Yogurt smoothies were very popular, as were (as always), the desserts and breads.

All shoppers at the Mobiles must live in Nebraska and, according to a new rule, one household can shop for itself and only one additional household.

Shoppers must bring their own bags, boxes and/or shopping carts and wagons, and, in the case of senior citizens and the handicapped, their "muscle."

There are no income restrictions, no income verification or extensive paperwork (number in household, ages of those in household, ZIP code, first time at a Mobile Pantry (yes or no), and "How did you hear about the Mobile Pantry?"

The Mobile Pantry program is a state-wide project of the Food Bank for the Heartland, based in Omaha, and is designed to provide food where there is high need, but limited resources.

Local Mobiles are coordinated by the Hitchcock County Pantry.

For more information, contact JoLyn at (308) 278-2123, or Barb at (308) 345-1187.

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