FOOD PANTRIES AT SCHOOLS AND SENIOR COMPLEXES

SCHOOL PANTRIES

Studies have shown that food insecurity amongst school-age children leads to behavioral issues, more health problems, and lower academic achievement. Also, developmental impairments are more common in children who deal with food insecurity.

In coordination with local schools and volunteers, River Bend Food Bank operates more than 65 food pantries at high-need schools to give low-income students and their families access to food when they pick up their children or attend a school function. The program’s goal is to offset food insecurity for children at a critical point in their development and help stabilize families by making it convenient to pick up emergency food.

SENIOR LIVING COMPLEX PANTRIES

Sadly, seniors have become a fast-growing population of chronically food-insecure people in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. According to the latest hunger studies through AginginPlace.org, 1 in 6 older adults (65 years or older) faces the threat of hunger.

While seniors may be able to take the bus to a nearby pantry, age and disabilities mean that many cannot easily transport a large amount of food. Food pantries in senior communities provide convenient access to emergency food for residents. Volunteers (often seniors who live at the pantry site) come to the Food Bank to pick up food, or River Bend Food Bank delivers food to the complex.

River Bend Food Bank partners with 11 senior living facilities to provide food pantries to older adults in our service area.