Iowa Food Hub in need of assistance to get the Food Hub truck back on its wheels

October 10th was a bad day for local farmers, local schools, and the local business that connects them. Iowa Food Hub's refrigerated delivery truck hydroplaned and rolled into the ditch. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Eggs were scrambled, apples were sauced, and the truck was badly damaged, severely limiting Iowa Food Hub's ability to operate.

The Iowa Food Hub is a non-profit food hub that functions with enough margin to cover its expenses and allow for moderate growth as they work tirelessly every day to help over 60 local food farmers and processors connect to food service and grocery store buyers. Since 2012, they have helped farmers sell over $1.5 million dollars of product. Each year they deliver over $60,000 worth of healthy veggies, fruit, dairy, and meat from local farms to Northeast Iowa school children.

While insurance will help with the truck repairs and possible replacement in the long-term, the food hub needs help with the short-term expenses like the costs of a rental truck (up to $1000 per week) along with towing and lost product costs.  It is the busiest time of the year for local food - October Farm to School month. The food hub truck has full loads of local products scheduled to schools and colleges throughout eastern Iowa all month.

A gofundme page has started, hoping to raise $10,000. As of Tuesday, $1,400 had been donated.

General Manager Georgia Windhorst and Sales and Warehouse Manager Phil Janke Sauer gave this update, "Thanks to generous and understanding farm partners, IFH was able to finish last week's deliveries with a borrowed truck. And, with your generous donations, we will be able to use a rental truck this week to make all of our regular deliveries, and pick up food from our farmers. That means lots of apples, yogurt, cabbage, ground beef and more are still getting to area schools during Farm to School month. Thank you!

"We are waiting to learn the fate of our old truck and when we can start moving forward with repairs or replacement. While there is still a long road ahead, we are grateful for your help in getting us back on the road."

For more information, visit www.gofundme.com/get-the-food-hub-back-on-its-wheels.