One in five children in America face food insecurity. But one might think that mostly occurs in bigger cities or across the country, but it could never happen in the Crossroads.
Unfortunately it does, and its 42,000 of your neighbors who are wondering where their next meal is going to come from.
When Robin Cadle, President of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent located at 801 South Laurent Street, first came to the non-profit organization in 2012, the organization distributed three million pounds of food. This year, that number is closer to eight million pounds of food across 11 counties. During the pandemic the food bank reached a record high, giving out nine million pounds of food.
鈥淲hile the need now is less than it was during the pandemic, it鈥檚 still greater than before COVID-19,鈥 Cadle said.
The Food Bank of the Golden Crescent regularly feeds 30,000 people a month, but the actual need is much greater. Cadle confesses that the food bank is not meeting the need. Nine of the 11 counties the food bank serves are rural communities with little to no public transportation system and few grocery stores.
Food deserts are another form of food insecurity. Food deserts are areas that are more than one mile away from the nearest supermarket or large grocery store in urban cities or 10 miles away in urban communities, according to the USDA.
In fact, Bloomington is considered a food desert since it is a rural community with no large grocery store within 10 miles.
鈥淧eople think we serve people who are lazy or homeless people when in fact, 98% of our clientele are working and struggling to make ends meet and pay their bills,鈥 Cadle said.
The Food Bank of the Golden Crescent serves families, individuals, seniors, and children 鈥 all of which qualify for the non-profit鈥檚 services based upon their income.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not just giving away food,鈥 Cadle said. 鈥淪ome of our most vulnerable people are seniors and children. We have senior citizens who are retired and on a fixed income raising their grandkids and need help.鈥
During the holiday season, more organizations display toy drives, jacket drives and food drives than any other time of year. While you might think the demand for food would go up at the food bank during November and December, it doesn鈥檛.
鈥淔ood is in high demand all year around,鈥 Cadle said. 鈥淭hese people come each month so, during the holidays, the demand for food isn鈥檛 much higher than normal,鈥 Cadle said.
Not only is the food bank supporting families in need directly, they also provide food to organizations like the 足交视频 Christian Assistance Ministry, the Salvation Army and local church pantries. In addition, the food bank also helps to provide meals for local students on the weekend.
As you donate to food drives this year, it鈥檚 important to remember what you can and can鈥檛 donate. Food safety is a priority at the food bank.
Opened or expired foods cannot be accepted by the food bank along with glass jars and tobacco products. Shelf stable items like canned meats, cereal and peanut butter are great items to give during a community food drive.
鈥淓verything helps. The one can you donate is one more can that we didn鈥檛 have yesterday,鈥 Cadle said.
Items still within a six-month best buy date are still good to donate. Besides canned food drives, monetary donations also go a long way to helping provide food for your neighbors in need at the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent.
Next week, Sparklight will donate $6,000 to the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent as a part of the business鈥 charitable giving program.
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