Food Banks And Pantries Feeling The Effects Of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

While there is a growing need for the services of food banks and pantries, keeping up with demand could soon become an issue.

Food pantries are working hard to get food to those that need it but that can be difficult when supply is limited and donations are low.  

Unlike income-based food pantries or food banks that have a certain income requirement in Project 66 in Edmond is a needs-based food pantry.

“We have clients that come monthly,” Project 66 Treasurer Eve Cook said. “We have clients that come every couple of months. We have clients that come once or twice a year.”

One of the benefits of being a needs-based organization is the relationship with area grocery stores.

Project 66 has a partnership with Walmart, Target, as well as local food stores like Uptown Grocery Company.

“It allows us to get name brand items. Things that your family would eat. Things that my children eat,” she said.

When those retailers have more stock than needed, they donate to Project 66.

When grocery stores aren’t able to restock their shelves fast enough, Project 66 will have a difficult time stocking theirs.

“Aside from not having toilet paper, paper towels, and hand sanitizer, they don’t have macaroni and cheese,” Cook said. “Their cereal items are slim picking. So, with the grocery stores being bombarded with hoarders or people that are in panic mode, it’s affecting us.”

Project 66 also depends on private donations.

“In 2019, at this time, our individual donations, that’s donations we get from people walking in the door, was about 2,300 lbs,” Cook said. “We have one week left to go and we are at 504lbs.”

Cook said Project 66 will do whatever it can to make sure that when every person opens their refrigerator, there is always something inside.

For more information on Project 66, click here.