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Midwest Food Bank upgrades truck fleet with church donation

A man poses in front of a truck for the camera.
Melissa Ellin
/
WGLT
Midwest Food Bank CEO Eric Hodel poses next to the organization's new — and shiny — red truck. The food bank used part of a grant from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to buy the semi.

More families are becoming food insecure, as the Midwest Food Bank in Normal reports its partner agencies have seen 25% more families seeking food assistance services as of late.

A recent $300,000 donation from the Jesus Christ Church of Latter-day Saints allowed the food bank to buy a new semi, which Midwest Food Bank CEO Eric Hodel said will help the organization meet the rising need.

“As we continue to grow and continue to go procure and rescue more food, having more trucks and more ability to bring that food into our locations is a huge blessing,” he said on WGLT’s Sound Ideas, adding that the semi is an example of “an additional fleet.”

In his speech Friday to unveil the truck to church members and the media, Hodel said the church has volunteers across the food bank’s 10 locations — three of which are in Illinois.

Latter-day Saints Elder Kirk Hodges said the donation aligns with the church’s mission to “collaborate and support people who are looking [after] those who are in need and to rescue and to help and to lift.”

A man stands at a podium. Two people stand behind him to the side and the front of a red semi is seen behind the speaker.
Melissa Ellin
/
WGLT
Latter-day Saints Church Elder Kirk Hodges speaks to the volunteers at the press event.
The Midwest Food Bank's newest red semi, which the organization bought using a grant from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Melissa Ellin
/
WGLT
The semi the food bank purchased with grant funds.

With inflation, Hodel said it’s common for people to find themselves requiring extra help with necessities, such as groceries. He pointed out that families with fixed incomes may find it hard to juggle so many demands: utilities, gas, clothes and food.

“And it really starts to push them to a little bit of a line or a ledge where they don't have the ability to fund their whole household budget,” he said.

That’s where the food bank steps in to help, Hodel added.

Midwest Food Bank’s Normal location serves over 500 agencies.

Farm Bill

Another factor that could impact food insecurity nationwide is the 2018 Farm Bill, which expired in September. That bill covers food assistance measures and funding, including for SNAP, the federal low-income grocery assistance program.

Congress is considering a new bill, but there’s no guarantee it will pass.

Hodel said he’s hopeful the incoming administration will approve the bill, but at the same time, “operations of Midwest Food Bank aren't really hinging on the passing or the renewal of that farm bill.”

The food bank will continue in its mission of getting food to people’s tables regardless of what happens, Hodel added.

Melissa Ellin is a reporter at WGLT and a Report for America corps member, focused on mental health coverage.