As we enter the giving season, it is not uncommon to see a greater outpouring of the phenomenal generosity of the people of west central Iowa. Names from giving trees disappear at a rapid pace, area families are adopted for Christmas and drives of all sorts fill the calendar. Food donations also rise during this time, for which all the local food pantries are grateful. However, Roxie Rienart, director of Carroll County’s food pantry, Community of Concern, says the need for cash donations has risen over the years as sources of funding have decreased and expenses increased.
She says it takes about $50,000 to operate the pantry and sustain an emergency fund. They only get roughly $14,000 of that from the city, county, state and the Carroll Area United Way. Donations are used to fill the gap. Cash is also used to buy milk, bread, butter and other perishable items. Over the past year, the food pantry has served more than 10 percent of the Carroll County population, providing carts full of food in an emergency situation for more than 2,730 individuals.
Although it is not an ongoing program, Reinart says they want to make sure people are getting all of the help they need and that those who may fall through the cracks of the system are not going hungry. The holiday season is the time of year the pantry really focuses on stocking up.
Hunters can also help out by donating their harvest through the state’s HUSH (Help Us Stop Hunger) program. Deer can be taken to Mike’s Locker for processing, the cost of which is covered by the Food Bank of Iowa. The meat then goes directly to the food pantry for distribution. Carroll Broadcasting is hosting a food drive on Friday at both the Carroll Hy-Vee and Fareway stores, and Reinart says a list of the most needed items will be available at both of those locations. Shoppers will also be able to make cash donations to assist with stocking and operations for the Community of Concern, New Opportunities, The Family Resource Center and the Carroll County Nest. Over 37 years of the spirit of generosity and volunteerism has kept the Community of Concern Food Pantry’s doors open. Reinart says it is difficult to know how to say it, but what they need most right now is cash, and they are relying on the spirit of the season to help them pull through for another year. And, that generosity of spirit shone brightly on Wednesday when within one hour of Reinart explaining their situation on 1380 KCIM, a local donor dropped off a check for $1,000. Details on how to contact Community of Concern and these other local charitable organizations can be found below.
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Community of Concern: 712-792-5150 322 West 3rd Street in Carroll
New Opportunities: 712-792-9266 23751 U.S. Highway 30 Carroll
Family Resource Center: 712-792-6440 502 West 7th Street Carroll
Carroll County Nest at St. Anthony Regional Hospital: 712-794-5623 318 S. Maple Street, Suite #3 Carroll
