St. Stephen’s Food Bank Replaces Refrigerated Truck at Runde Chevrolet

St. Stephen’s Food Bank will have an easier time distributing food after getting a new 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 refrigerated cube truck from salesperson Jacob Puls at Runde Chevrolet today!

The vehicle is replacing their 2002 box truck that had a failing refrigeration unit.

“The parts for it aren’t made anymore, so every time something happened, they had to find used parts,” said Kathy Hutton, executive director of St. Stephen’s Food Bank. “Last time, it took 12 weeks.”

Twelve weeks is too long to wait when the truck has important work to do. The truck helps the nonprofit pick up food donations that they distribute to over 100 partner agencies.

St. Stephen’s Food Bank distributed 1.8 million pounds of food in 2017 — up 20 percent from the previous year.

“That poundage needs to be doubled to sustain everyone’s life in the hunger category in Dubuque County,” Kathy said.

They also participate in the state-wide Backpack Program, providing backpacks filled with food for weekend and holiday vacations to children who participate in free and reduced lunch programs. There are more than 400 backpacks distributed each week in Dubuque County, Jackson County, and East Dubuque.

“A lot of people don’t know about that program,” Kathy said.

St. Stephen’s Food Bank was established in 1982 in the back of the Dubuque Rescue Mission. In 2006, it moved to its current location, a 6,000-square-foot warehouse on Cedar Crest Ridge in Dubuque.

Want to help out? You can donate on the St. Stephen’s Food Bank website to help provide food for Tri-State residents. Donate Here.

“We can take $1 and make five meals from that dollar through our partnership with Feeding America,” Kathy said.

To learn more about the St. Stephens Food Bank, visit www.ststephensfoodbank.org