‘Each One, Feed One’ food drive to take place at six grocery stores

Monroe County United Ministries’ fourth annual “Each One, Feed One” food drive will take place Aug. 29-30 at six grocery stores around Bloomington: Kroger, Bloomingfoods, Buehler’s Buy-Low, Marsh/O’Malia’s, Sahara Mart and Save-a-Lot.

Volunteers will be collecting non-perishable food items as well as cleaning supplies and hygiene items.

The food drive benefits families that seek aid through MCUM’s emergency services food pantry. The pantry at MCUM is a short-term assistance program, and food assistance is available every thirty days.

Four years ago, families were given food based on a five-day period. However, MCUM’s belt tightened and the number dropped to three. That’s when Meri Reinhold, the executive director of MCUM, decided to put on a food drive at the end of summer.

“We didn’t have enough money to get through Christmas,” said Reinhold. “I was worried. I was racking my brain.” 

Reinhold said that because November and December are the pantry’s strongest months, it struggles by the time May rolls around. 

Finally, Reinhold and the staff at MCUM found that giving a nudge to grocery shoppers on their way into the store was a good strategy. 

Last year, the drive raised 13,706 pounds of food. This year, the 250 volunteers and staff at MCUM hope to bring in 15,000 pounds of food in two days, MCUM intern Jennifer Larson said.

Volunteers will help out at the grocery stores as food sorters and will act as store coordinators and assistants. Store volunteers will be handing out a shopping list that emphasizes the pantry’s most needed items. MCUM asks that shoppers pick up an item on the list to donate on their way out.

Before families get help from MCUM, they explain the situation to a caseworker who evaluates the situation. 

“We have families where they have one or two breadwinners and they just can’t make ends meet,” Reinhold said. “One gets sick and next thing you know, the whole family has been destabilized.”

Larson said cleaning and hygiene products are available every ninety days and utilities and rent assistance once a year.

MCUM sees regulars and will help them stay on track with job searches. However, if people come in repeatedly with no sign of improvement, the organization directs those people to long-term assistance programs. 

With the food drive approaching, Reinhold said MCUM is still looking for more volunteers.

“It’s a great time for everyone coming back to get involved,” said Larson. “It’s a time when the food pantry is particularly bare.”