Letter to the Editor - So Much Gratitude

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. Dear Editor, The Decorah Community Food Pantry(DCFP) Board of Directors is overwhelmed with gratitude from the tremendous outpouring of support during the recent weeks. Our community has always shown us generosity, but since the Government shutdown and threat to SNAP benefits, everyone has truly stepped up and provided our food insecure neighbors with a level of giving that we have not before experienced. Cash and shelf stable donations have been continually showing up from the community. We have seen a continuing increase of usage in our six-county area (52% Winneshiek County, 32% Allamakee County, 10% Howard County, 6% the other counties in NE Iowa). We are expecting a continued increase in need with the current decrease in available funding for social programs. Many people and organizations are necessary to make the work of feeding our neighbors happen. The DCFP benefits tremendously from the generosity of local donors, organizations, and our area churches. We have over 130 volunteers who help organize and distribute our goods five days a week. We rescue and purchase food from generous local food outlets, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo, and local Farmers Market vendors. We are committed to helping our environment by making use of perfectly good food through our five-day-per-week "food rescue" initiative (local retail food that would otherwise be thrown into our landfill). DCFP is proud of, and committed to, our programs of composting food waste and recycling plastic. Check our website decorahpantry.org for more information. If you have any questions, contact our Director, Matt Tapscott, at 563-380-4721. Once again, our Board would like to let our community know how grateful we are for your kindness and generosity to help our neighbors who are facing food insecurity. Nancy Ruen President, DCFP Board of Directors Together, we build a stronger Decorah—contribute your voice by submitting a letter today!