Hunger isn’t just an urban issue – it affects rural areas too.

• 11.7% of rural households are food insecure, an estimated 2.2 million households nationally.

Many of the Freestore Foodbank’s counties in our 20 county service region are rural communities, and it is often difficult for people in need in these areas to receive enough food for their families. With the recent downturn in the economy, rural areas in our region are having a particularly difficult time, struggling with the loss of industry and depleted resources.

How does the Freestore Foodbank help?

Through a partnership with Feeding America and Kraft Foods, the Freestore Foodbank recently received the

Kraft Foods Mobile Pantry

unit to help bring more nutritious food to these rural areas. The Mobile Pantry is a 26 ft truck with refrigeration capabilities that can carry up to 10,000 pounds of produce, dairy, bakery and staple items. This program revolutionizes our ability to bring food to our outlying counties and the results have been extraordinary. We are currently making 2 trips per week and will continue to build the program to better serve these areas in need.

What can you do?

• Become a fan of our Facebook fan page – we update Mobile Pantry information there on a regular basis!

• Consider sponsoring a Mobile Pantry distribution – ask those in your book club, work group, church or school to donate a few dollars to help those in our community