"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works -Hebrews 10:24
Rollie Reed, Operations Manager, and Elisabeth Hayes, Office Assistant, recently met with 250 agency representatives for MFB's annual partnership meetings. Every year, MFB invites partnering agencies to come together for important announcements and give feedback on how MFB can better serve them.
Elisabeth and Rollie reported that partner agencies receive, on average, $64,460 worth of food from MFB annually. Midwest Food Bank Peoria had 2,650 volunteers in 2018, serving our agencies by repackaging, loading, and recording food received.
Distribution logistics were discussed including a new drive-through and additional fresh produce distributions. Agency representatives have requested food distributions closer to their food distributions so that they can better serve those they reach. Rollie, Elisabeth, and the rest of MFB staff and volunteers are making plans to change monthly food distribution to weekly distributions by the end of 2019.
Multiple pantries stated that the meeting was helpful and encouraging. "No matter what kind of a day I am having, I always leaves MFB feeling refreshed and more light-hearted," says Dan Philips from Loaves and Fish Ministry. MFB is thankful for all of our partner agencies on the front lines in the fight against food insecurity.