When Hannah Johnson worked to open the First Lutheran Clothing Closet and Food Pantry last summer in Clarion, she likely could not have predicted what would be happening less than a year later. Though their original mission started out focusing more on clothing, the food side has become the focal point currently. In the last month and half, this much needed source for food and other goods has been busier than ever.
It is no secret that since mid-March, many people have been struggling as shutdowns and slowdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have caused a historic spike in job losses. Nationwide estimates indicate that one in six American workers have now lost their jobs since mid-March, by far the worst string of layoffs on record. On top of that, considering that school is not in session, this leaves more people at home than normal. All these conditions combined can ultimately create more food need than people have ever experienced, even in a rural area like Clarion and Wright County.
Thus, it comes as no surprise, that Johnson finds her service more needed than ever before. The food pantry, located in the Clarion First Lutheran Church, has seen a huge uptick of people at its doors. Johnson, who acts as the local pantry’s director, says, “The need has skyrocketed over the past two months. Before that, on average I was assisting 80 shoppers a month. Now with the pandemic, I saw 428 people in April alone.” This is over a 400% increase in mere weeks.
Johnson is certainly not alone in seeing increasing food need. The same can be seen across the state. The Food Bank of Iowa typically provides 1.5 million pounds of food to 175,000 Iowans a month. COVID-19 has changed that exponentially, as Gov. Kim Reynolds recently announced an increase of individuals applying for food assistance by 65 percent.
The First Lutheran Food Pantry has worked hard to fulfill this need for anyone and everyone. Johnson emphasizes that this resource is available to all, regardless of where you live currently, where you are from or what language you speak. There are no income or identification requirements.
People can come in once a month to get food and other items. When people do come in, they are met at the door and handed bags of items they need after consulting with volunteers. Johnson said this helps maintain social distancing safety and also guests’ privacy. In addition to food, the pantry can provide diapers, baby food, and of course, toilet paper. She notes that the clothing side has temporarily been suspended due to virus concerns.
Johnson says the food that the pantry depends on is acquired entirely from donations, and now they need those more than ever. She affirmed, “We rely on the generous hearts of the community to keep First Lutheran’s Clothing Closet and Food Pantry Open. The community has been so gracious in the donations of food, diapers, clothing and money that it has allowed me to give a hand up to hundreds of grateful shoppers this year.” These donations also include several from Clarion businesses that Johnson appreciates more than she can say.
When money is donated, Johnson explains that she can put it to great use due to the pantry’s recent move to partner with the Food Bank of Iowa. “This means that with those generous monetary donations, I can purchase food from the Food Bank for $0.17 a pound, allowing me to reach and provide more food to more hungry shoppers than I ever thought possible,” she emphasized.
In a true example of small town giving and generosity, a special donation event was held last Friday. Under the bright lights of the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows football stadium, a drive-by donation drop station was set up. Passers-by dropped off bags of food items, along with monetary donations. Jennifer Askelsen who stopped by with her daughters to make a donation said, “We know that there is a big need out there and we’re just happy to help.”
The Clarion Ministerial Association’s Food Voucher program was also a great cause that people donated to that night. Pastor Bill Kem explained that the voucher program has been going on for over 10 years in town. Through it, once every six months, families can receive a voucher to the local grocery store. “It really is eye-opening to see the amount of families who are struggling to provide food right now. You just don’t like to think that kids go to bed hungry in Clarion, but they do,” Kem said.
Like the food pantry, the voucher program relies entirely on donations. Between the two resources, both the food pantry and voucher program, the outpouring of support last Friday night was impressive. Carla Kem, who helped organize the donation event, reported that 211 food items were dropped off with $626 raised for the Ministerial Association and $1,221 for the food pantry. Carla said, “It was a great first event!”
The organizers plan to continue with the Friday night donation events until May 22. People can drop by the football field Friday between 8 and 8:30 p.m. Each week, different food and grocery donations are being sought, including for May 1 – instant mashed potatoes, pasta and pasta sauce; May 8 – peanut butter, cereal and oatmeal; May 15 – canned beans, soups and hamburger helper; and May 22nd – diapers, wipes and baby food.
If unable to stop by on a Friday, people can still drop off donations to the pantry during their open hours, which are Thursdays 5-7 p.m. and Saturdays 9-11 a.m. People can also mail monetary donations to the Lutheran Church or drop them off at First Citizens Bank where there is a Food Pantry account. Food voucher program donations can be given to one of the local pastors.
While some of the needs in the Clarion and across the country may slow down eventually, the work at the First Lutheran Clothing Closet and Food Pantry will not. Johnson plans to keep growing and helping as many people as they can. She emphasized, “That the message of ‘You Belong Here’ shines brighter than anything. It’s our goal that people always feel they can come to the pantry for food, clothing and diapers, knowing there will be a smiling, compassionate volunteer waiting for them at the door!”
