Mobile Food Distributions are a partnership between Harvesters Community Food Network and HandsOn Kansas State, a Staley School of Leadership Studies student-led program. Through these distributions, thousands of pounds of fresh produce are distributed to the community at no charge. HandsOn has partnered with Harvesters to bring these distributions to the Manhattan community for eight years.
During the fall 2020 semester, the teams saw a dramatic increase in need. The mobile food distributions served 36,343 pounds of food to more than 2,900 people. Comparatively, in fall 2019, 23,102 pounds of food were distributed to more than 900 people.
“It is mind blowing to see the amount of people who benefit from these monthly food distributions,” said Jade Valdez-Gomez, freshman at K-State and volunteer. “Each time I volunteered, I was filled with an irreplaceable sense of fulfillment as I helped combat food insecurity in the community.”
Both partners extend thanks to K-State Recreational Services and K-State Police for their willingness to assist with the increase in cars at the event. These teams worked together to reroute traffic patterns and ensure a successful distribution for everyone involved.
Another thanks goes to volunteers who assisted with the distributions. Due to COVID-19 operating procedures, the number of volunteers decreased to just seven at the events in spite of the rising numbers of those served. Distribution procedures also adhered to COVID-19 safety guidelines to include physical distance, masks, gloves, and placing food directly into vehicles for a contactless distribution. The adaptability and patience of our volunteer team was remarkable.
“We are so thankful for our volunteers, staff members, Harvesters, university officials, and community members for their flexibility and support,” said Lindsey Hamner, HandsOn K-State student coordinator. “It has always been our goal to support food security efforts that exist here in the Manhattan community, and we are grateful for everyone who made the continuity of this service possible throughout the pandemic.”
There will not be a food distribution Friday, Dec. 11. Mobile food distributions will resume in 2021 and dates will be announced soon. Additional food distributions in the area are still operating in December. Visit https://nourishtogether.org for more food security resources in the Manhattan community.
For questions about how to get involved with HandsOn K-State or mobile food distributions email handson@ksu.edu.
