The Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency is asking all supporters to come out to the Stuff a Truck Food Drive next week at Roger’s Foodland to help it head into what’s expected to be an extremely busy holiday season.
Although the government shutdown is ending, the agency’s Yvonne Vidt tells us clients served by its food pantry were struggling more than usual to begin with.
“Every year we go, ‘Oh my gosh, the need is so much higher this year.’ But again, this year the need is even higher,” Vidt said.
Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency Director Kim Smith Oldham says she’s read that meat prices alone are up about 14%, and the agency has had trouble filling some of the orders it’s placed with local vendors.
“A lot of the factors with the inflation and reduced government benefits has really took a toll on our pantry,” Smith-Oldham said.
And Vidt says Stuff a Truck is the Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency’s single biggest event each year. Now is the time to help out.
“We had four trucks from stuff a truck last year and that lasted us maybe until June. So the need is high this year.”
The agency will join Y Country Radio’s Jonny Reinhart at Roger’s Foodland next week, November 17 through November 22, to collect items and monetary donations. The donated money is used to purchase meat while they’re seeking non-perishables from those making purchases.
The crew will be stuffing trucks from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and then from 10 a.m. to noon next Saturday.
