KCII’s Caring Christmas Food Drive collects food and monetary donations to give to area food pantries, many of which have seen an increased need or have had to adjust their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Church of God Food Bank in Washington is one of the Caring Christmas Food Drive’s recipients and has operated for over a decade. Anyone is welcome to receive food from the church, typically on the fourth Thursday of the month from 1:30-4:30 p.m., though because of the upcoming holidays they will be open on December 17th. Coordinator Dean Elmore explains that since the pandemic they have distributed food boxes on the east side of the building instead of allowing visitors inside, “We have a table set out there and they call and tell us whether we need to get the box ready, take it out there and set it on the table. And then we get a box of frozen food too, meat and stuff and put it out there, and then they come out there and they pick it up and take it and go. That way they do not come in the building and we kind of hold back on personal contact.”

Elmore asks that the public call the church when they are ready to pick up a food box, and they can also assist people during other times of the month by appointment. The food bank is sustained by the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program and local donations. You can contact the church at 319-653-5768 as well as a link to the Caring Christmas Food Drive here.