A Deeper Look at the Mobile Food Pantry Experience in Rural Ontonagon

Ontonagon Fire Station Mobile Food Pantry truck

One day earlier this year, enough food for 350 families was loaded onto the food bank’s new Upper Peninsula dedicated truck and driven up to an Ontonagon Mobile Food Pantry.

Bags of macaroni that were recently rescued and repackaged by Reclamation volunteers back in Comstock Park were now being placed into cars of those in need in the Western Upper Peninsula. Apples, rice and raisins procured through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) were assembled into boxes and distributed. Fresh produce like carrots and potatoes, dairy products like milk and cottage cheese, as well as various baked goods, were all sorted into family-sized portions and placed directly into the hands of neighbors in need.

The line was long for the Mobile Pantry, with hundreds of cars waiting to pick up much-needed food. Jim, the coordinator who has been involved with the program for years, knows how much the Mobile Pantries mean for so many in their rural community.

“Having the Mobile Food Pantry come here and be present within our community makes access to food resources that much more sustainable. By the numbers that we see, it’s obviously very much needed in our community. People are often asking when the next one is. And they’re very appreciative of it!”

Through his role as coordinator, Jim also sees what goes on behind the scenes to make a Mobile Pantry distribution run smoothly. It takes many dedicated volunteers as well as funding to ensure food gets into the hands of those who need it.

“We have a spectacular group of volunteers who show up consistently month to month and help get everything set up and organized. And, we are very grateful to Copper Shores Community Health Foundation for their financial support throughout the years. We’re very appreciative for everyone who helps make this happen!”

One volunteer, Sharon, has been volunteering from the very first Mobile Pantry in Ontonagon. She goes through the line of cars and signs people up as they wait to receive food, and makes sure everyone gets what they need.

“I see a lot of seniors come through, and they’re single—like if their spouse dies—so they only have one income. It helps them a lot. And there are a lot of families with kids. I know it helps them all.”

Food insecurity affects everyone differently; every neighbor coming to the Mobile Pantry has their own unique story to tell. There are working parents who are between paychecks and need food to ensure their kids have enough to eat, there are veterans who live in a rural area and have limited access to transportation, there are seniors who have bills to pay and don’t have enough money left for food—and the stories only go on from there.

Cecelia is a senior neighbor who came to pick up food to supplement the little she is able to get on her own due to living on a limited social security income.

“I need the food. With the way the economy is right now, it’s very, very difficult. I eat a lot of hamburger and noodles, so the fresh fruits I get from here are huge. It really helps me out. It’s given me a little bit more money that I’ve been able to use for other bills.”

For John, another senior, showing up to the Mobile Food Pantry is the way for him to supplement the nonperishable food items he receives from his local food pantry.

“This helps me save money, and I especially appreciate the fresh fruits and vegetables. Those are things I can’t otherwise get at the food pantry.”

After hearing about the Mobile Pantry on the radio, two neighbors decided to come to the distribution for their first time.

“With the way prices are nowadays, we wanted to come see what this was all about. We’ve heard that there’s good stuff available, and money is making it difficult to get food on our own.”

The reality is, one in six people (17.3%) in Ontonagon is at risk of food insecurity, and that number is even higher for children at one in five. Mobile Food Pantries like this one exist to bring much-needed nourishing food directly to these people in need, and every single piece of the distribution process is critical to ensure these supplemental groceries are made accessible. The food, funding and friends volunteering are all essential components to fulfilling our vision for all people in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula to have equitable access to nourishing food.