When you are trying the help those who need assistance in getting food for their families, sometimes the cupboards run a little bare. So imagine how excited people from the Fort Madison Food Pantry were when Kentucky Fried Chicken and Aldi’s Grocery Store offered a hand.
George Gaudette, president of the board of the Fort Madison Food Pantry, said he was thrilled with the idea of businesses making food donations.
“It’s great,” Gaudette said. “It’s been going on for a month and a half now. KFC is giving us frozen chicken, frozen mashed potatoes, biscuits and other things.”
Gaudette said he wasn’t sure how the products would be received by the users of the food pantry, but he was pleasantly surprised.
“People love it,” Gaudette said. “We get it every Tuesday and it goes fast.”
KFC Store manager Kathy Neff said the new owners of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Fort Madison, Zac Family Foods, wanted to give back to the community even before they took ownership of the store.
“We became a part of the Harvest Program,” Neff said. “I love the idea of not having to waste the food.”
Gaudette said the food is entirely cooked. It just needs to be reheated.
Gaudette said Aldi’s is also making donations.
“They come by on Wednesdays,” Gaudette said. “They give us whole chickens, paper towels ... just a wide variety of things. Some they cannot sell because they are out of date but are still good.”
Aldi’s has teamed up with food pantries nationwide. According to Gaudette, wherever there is an Aldi’s and a food pantry in the same town, this program is done. But these are not the only places that helps the food pantry.
“We have to purchase some things,” Gaudette said, “And we go to a couple of places, Hy Vee being one of them. They give up a good break on the prices.”
Hy Vee Store Director Kim Jaber, West Point, said the fact that Hy Vee is involved with the Fort Madison Food Pantry stems from Gaudette’s attitude.
“George is a big supporter of the food pantry,” Jaber said. “He has been a customer of ours and one day he called up and asked what we could do.”
Jaber said the store was able to provide discounts to purchases made by the food pantry, something that can assist the community all year.
The Fort Madison Food Pantry is operated by volunteers only.
“We have no paid positions,” Gaudette. “All 52 people are volunteers. We have a sign-up sheet and we keep three people here during the open hours.”
Gaudette said one person runs the office while the other two help customers with their shopping.
