Wheeling, WV – The Mountaineer Food Bank and the Ohio County Family Resource Network have partnered once again hold a mobile food pantry at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack in parking lots C and D on Wednesday, August 25th from 11 am-1 pm to supply food to the community as families gear up to return to school.
The food pantry volunteers will distribute meat, vegetables, milk, bread, and more to those who drive through during the distribution between 11 am – 1 pm. “We are so grateful for our partners at Mountaineer Food Bank and to Wheeling Island Casino for allowing us to use their location for this event. They, along with volunteers from Williams Energy, Junior League of Wheeling and members of the Ohio County Food Security Team make this distribution possible,” stated Claudia Raymer, Executive Director of the Ohio County Family Resource Network. Raymer went on to note that the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting many families and with school starting, parents are having to focus spending on back-to-school items.
Mountaineer Food Bank’s partnership with the Family Resource Network began last summer with this distribution being their 5th in Ohio County since then. The next two dates for distribution are October 28th and December 9th. Participants in the mobile food pantry may receive one box per vehicle. If there are two adults from two different households in a vehicle, they will be asked to drive through twice. Safety protocols in place include that food boxes will only be placed in trunks, not inside vehicles. If participants do not have space for boxes in their trunks, they will be asked to pull to the side to clear the space. No income verification or ID is required however participants will need to provide a West Virginia address.
Anyone who is unable to attend the mobile food pantry may access food by visiting one of the many “Blessings Boxes,” 24-hour food pantries, placed throughout the county including locations at The Soup Kitchen, Bethlehem Elementary, Bridge Street Middle School, The Elks Lodge in South Wheeling, Garden Park in Warwood, Valley Grove Community Center, or West Liberty Volunteer Fire Department. For more information about Blessings Boxes or the mobile food pantry, please contact Claudia Raymer at 304-232-5600 or OhioCountyFRN@yahoo.com.
For a full schedule of the Mountaineer Food Bank’s events, visit www.mountaineerfoodbank.org.
