Local food bank sending disaster relief to Texas

Posted on February 18, 2021
One load of boxes left the Twin-Cities Thursday afternoon and a volunteer group will be completing a second load for departure Friday morning. (Photo courtesy Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Every county in Texas is under a state of emergency as they have received heavy snow, ice, and bitterly cold temperatures.

Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal executive Director Tara Ingham says the Salvation Army has requested over 4,000 family food boxes be sent to their facility in Arlington, Texas.

“It is really unfortunate to see the entire state of Texas really affected by this unusual winter storm,” said Ingham.

Family food boxes have enough shelf-stable food to feed a family of four for four to five days.

One load of boxes left the Twin-Cities Thursday afternoon and a volunteer group will be completing a second load for departure Friday morning, said Ingham. The remaining loads will be prepared throughout the weekend and will ship next week.

“It will sustain them with an initial load of food and when you’re completely out of food it’s a blessing to receive something I’m sure,” Ingham said.

MFB is also looking for volunteers. There are opportunities on Friday (9-11 AM), Saturday (1-3 PM), and Monday (1-3 PM). Volunteers must be signed up to attend. The sign up can be found here.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…