The Second Harvest mobile food pantry set up for the first time in Darlington at the community room of the Talmer Bank and Trust on Friday, Dec. 6 and served a total of 94 people from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
A total of 26 volunteers worked from 3:30 to 6 p.m. to ensure that things went smoothly. There was a good turnout of volunteers for the first distribution, but the food pantry could always use more help and anyone wishing to volunteer or find out more about the food pantry can contact Larry Hakes at 776-4114.
According to Hakes, the distribution went very well for the first time and organizers are already making plans to implement some changes in the setup that will enable them to serve clients even faster next time.
Second Harvest workers commented that there was lower turnout of clients than they had expected, although the cold weather may have affected the turnout somewhat as well as the fact that this was only the first distribution.
Organizers are hoping the word will spread further and bring in more people for future distribution dates. Hakes said since the distribution times are a bit later than other pantry locations, they’re hoping more people will be able to stop after they leave work for the day.
The Second Harvest food pantry in Darlington will be on the first Friday of each month from 4:30 -5:30 p.m. in the Talmer Bank and Trust lower level community room. The next distribution date will be Jan. 3, 2014.
The main organizers for the food pantry are Shari Hoffman, Larry Hakes, Angela Innerst and Carrie Shippy.