As COVID-19 leaves people self-quarantining and at least temporarily out of work, food banks and pantries across the country are experiencing a surge in demand. Meanwhile, older volunteers have been told to stay home and social distancing have complicated efforts to distribute food. The Beatrice Community Food Pantry has found an interim solution: taking orders over the phone, and then placing the sack of food with the individuals’ names on it by the door. Mains had already mentioned a donation shortage in February, before COVID-19 had even been identified in Nebraska. Mains said the pantry is in need of ketchup, mustard, oil, sugar, flour, canned soup, canned meat, peas, toilet paper, paper towels, potatoes, jelly, pancake mix, syrup, lunch meat and hamburger.

Source: Daily Sun March 20, 2020 16:07 UTC