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Food pantry moving to old middle school
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · June 12, 2024
West Branch Food Pantry will relocate to the old West Branch Middle School and merge with the new food bank that serves the school district.
After years in the Town Hall annex building, 115 North First Street, the food pantry will haul all food, paper products, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and more to 225 North Maple Street, just east of West Branch Community Day Care.
Located in the east wing, the two agencies will assume the more widely recognized “West Branch Food Pantry” name.
West Branch Paw Pantry volunteers Jan Cretin and Barb Wilcox reached an agreement with West Branch Food Pantry volunteers Carol Jones and Deb Patty after talking about funding concerns.
“Carol and Deb said their funding was low and they didn’t or couldn’t offer refrigeration, so we asked if they were interested in merging, which would also allow us to provide more items,” Cretin said.
The two groups needed to get permission from West Branch Community School Superintendent, which owns the old school building, and Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP), which provides much of the food. Once approved, they began moving items to the school with an official start date set for July 1.
“It’s open to everybody,” Cretin said.
That’s important, she said, because demand is growing: Volunteers see more and more new faces each month, possibly because the city continues to add to its population.
“Oh yeah, you do,” Cretin said. “We do get new families.”
By combining forces, they plan to open more frequently. And, with the help of a $2,000 grant from Alliant Energy awarded to the West Branch PAW Pantries, they purchased a new refrigerator and freezer.
The agencies spent $1,580 on those appliances and plans to use the remaining funds for more shelving.
“We have food on tables now,” Cretin said. “It would be nice to go vertical.”
They also may invest in a couple of small grocery carts, which would also help transporting items to cars.
Cretin said the agency asked the West Branch Lions Club for help moving and the group agreed, offering labor and pickup trucks.
“I don’t think the move is going to be an outrageous thing to accomplish,” Cretin said.
In the meantime, families used to using the Town Hall location may still do so, or visit the old middle school.
Cretin said they may prefer the new location, which offers more space, privacy, and parking.
“We’re excited about it,” she said. “It’s great for the community, a bigger spot, and there’s nothing but pros about it.”
Cretin said HACAP drops off food weekly, giving them plenty to offer even though what they bring may not always be the same.
“What we get is what’s available at their warehouse,” she said. “We do like to use some of our funds for purchasing additional items.”
The food pantries use monetary donations to supplement their offerings, so that is their top request from anyone wishing to support them.
HACAP does not provide paper goods, but local churches often do. Cleaning and hygiene items also come through donations.
Next to money, top non-food needs include laundry detergent — “everyone needs that and it’s expensive,” Cretin said — toilet paper, body soap, and shampoo.
Top food needs include canned goods, pasta, quick dinners and lunches, eggs, and bread.
“We get a lot of meat from HACAP,” Cretin said. “Whatever we get (from donations) is a bonus.”
West Branch Boy Scouts (now called Scouting America) hosts an annual food drive that tends to provide the single largest boost each year, Cretin said. The West Branch Lions Club began assisting them in 2022.
West Branch Methodist Church, Bethany Lutheran, and St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church tend to host drives around Lent and Advent seasons for additional means to restock shelves.
An annual golf tournament helps raise money for Operation Backpack, which the school agency oversees, as well as other food pantries.
Anyone wishing to donate food may drop it off at Bethany Lutheran Church. Anyone wishing to make financial donations should make checks out to “West Branch Schools.”
Anyone with food needs may contact Jan Cretin at 319-643-2881 or Barb Wilcox at 319-643-3374.
Some key dates for picking up food:
• The first Tuesday of each month from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
• The second Thursday of each month from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
• The third Wednesday of each month from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
• The fourth Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon.
As for the Town Hall annex building, that will return to city use, Cretin said.
“I’m sure they would like the space,” she said.
Wilcox compiled some of the history and statistics of the West Branch Food Pantry:
• Maxine Maher started the food pantry in July 1980.
• Maher invited Deb Patty to volunteer in 1985 and Patty took over in 1990. Carol Jones began volunteering soon after.
• From June 2023 to May 2024, the pantry served 224 families with 636 people.
• If a family cannot make it to the HACAP truck from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday behind the West Branch Fire Station, the food pantry will help them out.
• Families come on a first come/first serve basis and come inside to shop for their own food choices.
• The pantry no longer provides monetary vouchers to Jack & Jill.
• The pantry serves anyone in the West Branch School District. Families need to bring a piece of mail to verify their address.
Editor's note: This story was updated on June 19 to correct two mistakes and make one clarification. First, to correct the information about Jack & Jill vouchers. Second, to correct the hours for the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program truck. Third, the clarify that families may visit the food pantry each time it is open.
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