The Iola Community Pantry gave out food to 3,599 residents in need in 2022, roughly double the amount who needed assistance a year earlier, Pastor Kenyon Kaer noted Wednesday.
“We can tell the economy isn’t doing very well,” Kaehr said. “Most of it is inflation. People are having trouble keeping up.”
The pantry, which distributes food on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings from its home base at the intersection of Washington and Broadway in Iola, received a much-needed boost this week from Emprise Bank employees.
The employees pooled their money and handed over a check for $1,044 to the Community Pantry.
The money already is being put to use, Kaehr said, telling bank employees he placed a $500 order for hamburger earlier in the day.
The Community Pantry accepts non-perishable food items or cash donations to buy perishables, such as milk or fresh meat.
The Community Pantry also is eager to buy from local producers.
And if an opportunity arises, such as if livestock has to be put down unexpectedly, the Community Pantry would pay the processing fees if the farmer is willing to donate the animal.
“We’ve done that before,” Kaehr said. “We’re not picky.”
