The Ross Medical Education Center campus in Roosevelt Park has hard worked over the last few years to make a difference in their community. They are always looking for like-minded organizations that want to improve lives and make a real change. That’s why they decided to partner with Gleaners Community Food Bank and their mobile food truck. This spring, Ross staff, faculty, students, and family members had the opportunity to participate in unpacking the local food truck and distributing food to the community. This event was able to serve food to approximately 170 families and individuals provided by Samuel Lutheran Church via Gleaners Food Truck with their Food Drive for Hunger initiative.
The Gleaners Community Food Bank mobile pantry allows Gleaners and their partners to distribute an average of 14,000 pounds of food to needy areas that don’t have a food bank. They are able to travel and take food to these high-need areas to set up as a one day distribution center. Volunteers then help to set up and organize the food so that families can get what they need. On the big day, each family/individual receives a large portion of food that includes both perishable and nonperishable items.
All of the Roosevelt Park campus that was able to help out loved the experience. Lisa Picard, Campus Director, shared about the event, “it was such a great feeling to be able to be a larger part of the community. In addition, it was a great experience to be able to model volunteer opportunities for the children who also actively participated.” She wasn’t the only one that enjoyed it though! The students wore their “I Survived My First Mod” shirts and represented Ross well. Many community members were impressed with the Ross group and asked what their shirts meant and where they were from.
If you are interested in finding out more about how you can help, visit Gleaners Community Food Bank on their Facebook page or their website at http://www.gcfb.org/. If you want more information about partnering with the Gleaners mobile pantry in your area, contact Dave Duey at dduey@gcfb.org or 866-GLEANER, ext. 247.