Mariah Nelson (below right) and crew from Second Harvest Food Bank in Grand Rapids got a workout last week when they coordinated food distribution at the Palisade Community Center. Cartons of food labelled, ‘Meat’, ‘Dairy’, ‘Produce’ and ‘Mixed’ were distributed to 60 families in the area. Volunteers helped load the groceries into vehicles and also delivered some boxes to people who requested it and could not come in person.
This program is something new for Second Harvest. Purchase of the groceries is funded through COVID-19 grant funding. There are no limitations with regard to family size or income to participate in these distributions. If funding continues to be available, Second Harvest hopes to return monthly.
Palisade City Clerk Maureen Mischler was the person who jumped on the opportunity to request the distribution.
“These Second Harvest folks really know their stuff,” she said as she helped load cartons of food into waiting vehicles. “Everything went really smoothly.”
Mischler reported after the event that many more families came or called that they had food available.
Nelson added, “If we had known there would be such an enthusiastic response in Palisade, we would have brought more boxes; next time we will be prepared to serve more families in this area.”
