Charles City Mobile Food Pantry Bogged Down by Early Arrivals

Operations of the Charles City Mobile Food Pantry are being hampered by an increasing number of early arrivals.

First-Wednesday-of-the-month drive-thru distribution of food to those in need officially runs from 5 to 6 pm at the Youth Enrichment Center in the Floyd County Fairgrounds. However, Jen Burton says some patrons have been getting their cars lined up as early as noon.

Food for the pantry is supplied by the Northeast Iowa Food Bank out of Waterloo, but Burton they’ve been getting “landlocked” by the trend of early arrivals, which peaked during their April 2nd distribution, with the line of cars extending out to Highway 14.

Burton says that also means that volunteers have had to arrive earlier.

Burton says they’ve been serving some 330 households per food pantry drive-thru distribution and understands that, if you’re in need, you don’t want to miss out. 

Burton is asking food pantry recipients to not start lining up before 3:30 pm on the day of distribution. She adds the fairgrounds are a fantastic partner and they don’t want to jeopardize the relationship and ruin their parking lots.