Decorah Area Food Pantry sends 2,000 pounds of food and supplies to Cedar Rapids

Posted: Wed, Aug 19, 2020 11:35 AM

(All images courtesy of the Decorah Food Pantry Facebook page)

The Decorah Area Food Pantry has helped Cedar Rapids residents by sending a truckload of non-perishable food and supplies to the victims of last week's derecho storm.

Decorah Food Pantry board member Steven Zittergruen says, "As the severity of the storm damage across central Iowa became more apparent, Decorah Food Pantry leaders decided to help. We assessed our stockpile of non-perishable food and supplies and decided to send 2,000 pounds of food and supplies to Cedar Rapids." Decorah Food Pantry director Carol Hemesath and assistant director Deb Tekippe carefully considered what to send that could be used by someone without electricity, and then packed up the food with help from volunteer Phil Hemesath.

Zittergruen says it was a team effort with lots of others helping out. "We didn't do this alone. The Spectrum Network provided freezer space and Stevenson Tree Care provided the transportation. We are proud that we were able to respond so quickly and generously. Our donation was only possible thanks to our community's strong support of our food pantry and the hard work of our many volunteers and staff."

"Our mission is to share food with those facing food insecurity and certainly many people in Cedar Rapids fit this category," states Hemesath. "We have been blessed with many low cost and free food selections from Northeast Iowa Food Bank so we were able to share our food."