River Bend Food Bank, St. Stephen's Branch

No one should go hungry. St. Stephen's, a branch of River Bend Food Bank, works with 100 partner agencies in Dubuque and Jackson counties to make sure people facing hunger have access to healthy food. In addition to collaborating with meal sites, food pantries, and community organizations who partner with us, River Bend Food Bank leads hunger-relief efforts through targeted programs:

• Backpack Program: provides nutritious, easy-to-prepare weekend foods to children who might otherwise go hungry when not in school. The program gives two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners to over 3,000 children across the service area every week during the school year.

• Mobile Pantry Program: Volunteers distribute truckloads of food through partner host sites around 15 times per month. Each distribution provides 8,000 meals and feeds 250-300 individuals;

• School Pantry Program: Provides safe places in nearly 20 local schools where students and their families can access food as needed;

• Senior Programs: Food pantries inside senior living facilities and delivery of food boxes to home-bound older adults provides much-needed food to nearly 160,000 seniors each year.

Leading the community-wide effort to eliminate hunger, St. Stephen's and River Bend Food Bank distribute over 20 million meals each year to hungry people across 23 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois through food pantries, schools, senior residences, and community organizations. Together, we will feed people today and end hunger tomorrow.

Testimonials

"It is very important for my family to receive food. I am a single mom of two, trying to make ends meet. I work, but not enough hours to provide for my family as I should. If I didn't have the food pantry to go to my children and I wouldn't have food." - anonymous guest of a food pantry

"I was downsized at my job. I couldn't buy food for my family and still pay all my bills with my unemployment. The food pantry helped me until I could find a new job." Sarah, a guest of a food pantry

"I retired from my job and was making ends meet. I was then diagnosed with cancer. I get food from the food pantry so that I can pay for my medicine." Scott, a guest of a food pantry

"I had a good job and was suddenly laid off. I came to the food pantry for food for my family. I was lucky to find another job and I am now volunteering at that same pantry." Gale, a volunteer (former guest) of a food pantry.

"My husband and I are older and were in desperate need of help as my husband was diagnosed with cancer and we could not afford the medicine and be able to pay all our bills. I came to the food pantry when we were down to 2 eggs In our refrigerator. The food pantry gave me food and it just lifted me up. Both physically and emotionally."