Food pantry for Clear Lake, Ventura residents opens today

A food pantry for those in need will open today (Wednesday, April 8).  The United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Ave. N., is the temporary home for the new community resource.

Director Bobbi Bendickson said the food pantry evolved from the church’s participation in the Healthy Church Initiative, which examined “Are we out in the community and providing services for those who need help?” she explained.  “This was identified as the greatest need.  Our school district says 36 percent of its students are on the free and reduced lunch program.  That translates to 1,200 people in our community living below the poverty rate.”

Those in need of help putting food on  the table have previously had the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank in Mason City available to them.  However, transportation to Mason City could be problematic.

“The Hawkeye Harvest folks have been so supportive and helpful to us,” said Bendickson.  “They recognize the need and have supplied us with good information.  Basically, they said ‘God bless ‘ya and go for it.’”

Bendickson is no stranger to programs to help lift those in need.  She served as director of Habitat for Humanity in North Central Iowa for over three years and was state director for the home building program for four years.  Now retired, she said she feels both ready and able to lead the food pantry effort. Helped by a - Read more via e-Edition