Grant from Walmart provides truck

 Walmart has awarded Midwest Food Bank Florida an $80,000 grant to purchase a refrigerated box truck to serve those in need. Expected to arrive in January 2018, this blessing will allow MFB to expand the number of agencies served.

"The truck from Walmart will be a tremendous help in picking up and delivering food donations, says Karl Steidinger, Executive Director of MFB Florida. "Nutritious perishable foods in particular will be easier to acquire and transport, and it will cost less than a semi to operate."

At the time of the request, MFB Florida was serving 83 agencies monthly. That number has risen to 95, and is set to increase with the arrival of the truck.

In addition to providing food for those in need, Midwest Food Bank offers relief to disaster victims. Hurricane Irma offered an opportunity to serve areas with unmet needs. MFB was on the ground with water and food in hard hit areas with 25 mobile pantry distributions in the month of September. Immokalee, Arcadia, Alva, Everglade City, Naples, Bonita Springs, Ft. Myers and Labelle were all given relief, and supplies were delivered to the Keys. Over a two-month period, MFB Florida distributed 85,832 cases of food and drink.

Midwest Food Bank is very thankful and honored to receive this gift from Walmart. It will be a huge help as we attempt to bridge the gap between prosperity and poverty.

Below is a photo of MFB's older truck in action.