Food bank to begin mobile food pantry program

A new mobile food pantry will soon bring the Arlington Community Food Bank directly out to those in need.

The food truck has been purchased by the local food bank thanks to donations from Arlington High School students, local businesses and the city of Arlington.

Students and officials gathered on Jan. 27 to recognize the community’s funding of the project.

“The truck is done, it’s just waiting for us to pick it up,” said Carla Rankin, executive director of the Arlington Community Food Bank.

It is currently in Maine and a volunteer plans to drive it to Washington state in the coming weeks, as that is cheaper than getting it shipped.

The project began when Rankin started as the food bank’s first executive director in March of 2019.

“My first week I was blown away because the phone was ringing off the hook and the biggest question was ‘can you deliver to me, I can’t make it to the food bank,’” she said.

The food bank does have a delivery program, however it is labor intensive. Rankin said she was inspired by bookmobile programs she remembered from when she was a kid that brought books directly out into the community.

“We have to meet people where they are, not where we’re at,” said Rankin.

Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert said services that go out into the community are much more accessible. “We have been far more successful when we disrupt a single point of service delivery. That is the old model that no longer works for people today,” she said.

A mobile food pantry would also allow more client choice.

“Instead of a box of food we picked out, they can pick their food right off the truck,” said Rankin.

The food truck has refrigerated units to keep produce and other foods fresh.

The project was delayed a bit due to the COVID pandemic and the food bank dealing with changes to their model and sudden increased demand.

“We didn’t stop thinking about that mobile food pantry, although it was a little bit on the back burner,” said Rankin.

Rankin began talking with Arlington High School teachers who passed down the initiative to students.

DECA, school leadership and the school’s boys basketball team all contributed to raising $19,000 for the project.

“We wanted to do something to be remembered and help our community,” said ASB Secretary Laura Meno.

It began with grade level competitions and expanded to other fundraisers.

“About two weeks before Thanksgiving in 2020 we were pretty bummed out that there wasn’t going to be a basketball season,” said Kaden Davis, part of Arlington High School’s boys basketball team. “We put together a Turkey Day food drive,” that raised food donations and also monetary donations for the mobile food pantry.

“It was just a great way to get our basketball team involved in the community,” said Davis.

Rankin appreciated the students’ efforts to kick-start funding for the mobile food pantry initiative.

“That was so impressive, and they were the driving force of this pantry to make it come to life,” she said.

The city of Arlington contributed $60,000 from federal pandemic relief funds to the project too.

“The federal government gave cities some money to mitigate the impacts of COVID,” said Tolbert. “When we found out how much money Arlington was getting one of my first calls was to Carla [Rankin]."

SMARTCAP, a real estate investment business, and SMARTCAP Construction, a related construction company, both donated $10,000 to the project as well.

“The community here in Arlington has been amazing. It’s really something we’re proud to be a part of,” said Robert Shipley, director of development at SMARTCAP.

“I live in this community and work in this community and it excites me to be a part of such a great cause,” said Matt Terlau, director of field operations with SMARTCAP Construction.

Rankin said the mobile food pantry will be going out into the community soon after it arrives in Arlington.

Food bank officials have been talking with Arlington Police Department’s embedded social workers to see where homeless people gather and where would be good spots to park the truck.

“We’re also going to meet with the school district and the city to find specific areas where we can park,” said Rankin.

Volunteers are also needed to help staff the trailer and begin the program.

Continued sponsors and financial donations are also needed for the program as only a significant down payment has been on the truck.

More information about the Arlington Community Food Bank is available at arlingtonfoodbank.org.