Early on Sunday morning, a new community outreach effort to end hunger in Story County was installed on the grounds of Ames Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, thanks to a partnership between the Ames Tribune, local manufacturer Danfoss and local congregations.
This spring, the Tribune and Danfoss came together to work to install small kiosk-like food pantries — similar to little free libraries — around Ames. As a part of the Newspapers for Education campaign, the Tribune also started a program to provide over 100 Story County residents in need with a year-long subscription to the newspaper for free. Interested families can sign up for the service through Central Iowa Community Services, and the Tribune will deliver the free newspapers.
The first food pantry was placed outside of Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church after services ended on Sunday, and together, members of the congregation and the Rev. Marty Watt blessed the kiosk.
“We’re very thankful to be able to offer this to our neighborhoods and to our community,” Watt said. “We want to be a blessing to our community in Ames. Anybody is welcome to offer things to the pantry, and take things they need.”
The Tribune donated the yellow box that acts as the pantry itself, Danfoss assisted with the project and Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church — along with the Ames United Church of Christ — will be responsible for supplying the food inside of the pantry. However, Watt said that donations from anyone interested in helping out will be gladly accepted.
In all, the initiative costs $12,000. At first, Danfoss’ Ames Campus Community Committee didn’t think the money was available, but it decided “this is something that’s really important to the community,” said Karolyn Knoll, the Ames community communication specialist for Danfoss.
With the first pantry kiosk officially installed, each week, a map that shows where it, and future additions, are located will run in the paper, along with a request for donations. That way, the families who are getting the free papers will also be able to find the food pantries, if needed.
“I think our duty as a newspaper is to give back to the community,” said Tribune Publisher Scott Anderson of the initiative when it was announced earlier this year. “That’s our duty, we need to make the community better.”
To donate to the Newspapers for Education program, contact Scott Anderson at sanderson@amestrib.com.
