DEPUE — A mobile food pantry is coming back to the DePue lakefront this month.
River Bend Mobile Food Pantry will be along First Street at the DePue lakefront park shelter Saturday, Aug. 17, hosted by the Hall Township Food Pantry. Registration for the event is from 10:15-11 a.m. with food distribution beginning at 11 a.m.
The public is asked to not arrive before 10:15 a.m. to help prevent traffic issues. Distribution will be outdoors unless there’s inclement weather. The distribution is open to any families in need, regardless of whether they reside in the Hall Township Food Pantry distribution area or not. No proof of income is required, but only one person per household may pick up food.
The food pantry recommends bringing a laundry basket to help carry food and also advised customers to be prepared to wait because the process can take up to two hours.
The goal of the mobile food pantry is to reach clients that may have a difficult time driving to the food pantry’s location in Spring Valley. Hall Township Food Pantry serves the communities of Arlington, Bureau, Cherry, Dalzell, DePue, Hollowayville, Ladd, Seatonville and Spring Valley.
Volunteers needed: The food pantry is requesting volunteers for set-up and to help distribute food. People will be needed to move tables and transfer pallets of food from the truck. Some volunteers will stand by the tables and place the food in carts, while others will help guests take their food to their cars. For more information or to volunteer, call the pantry at (815) 663-2085. In previous years, volunteers had to be high school aged or older, but this year, seventh and eighth grade students, accompanied by a parent, may also help at the distribution.
Second helpings: A second mobile food pantry distribution is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 28 at Kirby Park in Spring Valley. This is the first year the pantry has hosted a second mobile food pantry and is able to do so with proceeds from the Santas on the Run event.
