Because of high demand, a Quad Cities church plans to open a second food pantry on Monday. Christ United Methodist Church has made free food available at its campus in East Moline for many years, and will now offer the same help from its campus in Silvis.
Pastor Joye Perry says the number of people coming to their first food pantry showed them the need for another.
"We've just seen an incredible, I mean it's exponential - how many people have come to the food pantry compared to five years ago. The numbers are just overwhelming - to think that there's that much need out there - and that our economic situation in the Quad Cities has been difficult for a lot of families."
And unlike some food pantries where people are handed "set" bags of food, Perry says the new food pantry is more like a grocery store, with carts and shelves, in case people have food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
"We fell like there'll be an opportunity for people to feel like they've been respected and cared for. They can really pick and choose things that they know, when they get home, they'll really use and appreciate having them."
The food will come from individual and group donations, food drives, and from the River Bend Foodbank.
Her church's new food pantry will be open Mondays and Tuesday from 9 to 3 pm. Their East Moline campus food pantry is open 9 to noon, Monday through Friday.
