The Food Bank of Delaware is working to help get food to those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, the Food Bank distributed almost 500,000 pounds of food to about 5,000 people at three drive-thru food distribution events in Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown.
But Food Bank spokesperson Kim Turner says the goal was to not only get the food out, but inform those who need it.
"We wanted to do this to meet an urgent need immediately to get as much food out into the public as possible during this uncertain time," said Turner. "But we want to make sure that they know that there are resources already in the community where they can stop and make an appointment pick up food and then go about the rest of their day."
Turner adds regular programs, like the senior meal box with drivers delivering the boxes of food to senior centers and churches will continue, but the Food Bank is also ramping up to make sure church and community food pantries have extra supply to meet the demand.
And Turner says the Food Bank is helping at facilities that have a food pantry, but are shut down during the pandemic.
“If we need to set up a pop-up pantry in that parking lot at the church to try to fill that void that's something that we can certainly look into to make sure that there aren't any holes in services."
Turner says they can still use additional volunteers to help with their efforts.
"As an essential business, we are still able to accept volunteers at the Food Bank," said Turner. "We are practicing social distancing by keeping our group smaller than 10 and spreading people throughout the warehouse. So I just recommend that people check fbd.volunteerhub.com as we have needs for volunteers to post them there and then people can sign up directly online and then come in."
Turner notes monetary donations are also needed and being accepted at this time.
