Feeding those in need
Increasing numbers put stress on Garrison food pantry
BY JAMES C. FALCON
editors@bhgnews.com
Editor's note: This is the first in a series of stories about food pantries in the region.
A group of about one dozen students from Nichole Beyer's third grade class from Bob Callies Elementary School marched down the Main Street sidewalk, ready to help at the Garrison Area Resource Center.
And Dawn Kolden, coordinator of GARC's food pantry, was ready for them.
Kolden had smaller tubs, filled with non-perishable food items, ready to go for the elementary students. The items contained in the tubs included small boxes of cereal, fruit cups and snacks.
The students would be tasked with helping to fill these bags. During GARC's distribution day, these bags would be given out as part of the Little Lunches Backpack Program. Through this program, the food pantry would provide a weekend supply of nutritious food when school lunches or breakfasts aren't available.
After receiving their instructions, the students took turns forming assembly lines. Students lined both sides of the boxes; the boys would walk to each station and a girl would place an item in their bag, and then they switched. Once all the items were placed into bags, the students passed them to Kolden, who then tied and placed the bags in a large storage tub.
If the students completed everything, there would be about 300 bags ready to give out.
