Wanda arrived early in the day to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. It was going to be a hot one. She is elderly, with a disabled son at home. She sat in her car while she waited, searching on her phone for a new freezer. Wanda and her son receive $16 a month in SNAP benefits but she had recently seen a flashing sign on the side of the road promoting free food at the Chatham County Mobile Market and it made her hopeful. “I figured if they turn me away, it won’t be the first time,” reasoned Wanda. “Lots of people don’t know you can’t get food from just anywhere. You have to have a certain address. It’s discouraging.” But Wanda would not be turned away at this Mobile Market. She was actually the first car in line that warm summer day and would leave the Market with a full carload of food to feed her family for a good while.
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle held the Chatham County COVID-19 Mobile Market on June 4th at St. Julia Catholic Church in Siler City. Word of the event spread through flyers, social media, email and word of mouth throughout the month prior. The goal was to provide food to 1,500 households during the five hours of the drive-thru Market, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The trucks carrying the pre-packed boxes of shelf-stable food items, frozen casserole meals, fresh produce, bread, and other items, arrived early that morning and unloaded in the church parking lot. Food Shuttle staff and National Guard members set up two distribution lanes, and cars started lining up around 9 a.m. The Market was ready to go and started earlier than planned, with cars driving through both lanes as staff and National Guard soldiers loaded them up with food, herb growing kits, library reading materials, census information, and more. By the end of the day, 1,500 households were served, with 4,834 individuals receiving food to take home.
The stories of those who came to the Chatham County Mobile Market all share two common threads: the COVID-19 crisis has hit this county hard, and the need for assistance was great.
Linda saw a sign advertising the Market at CORA Food Pantry (Chatham County Outreach Alliance). She is retired but got sick and has trouble accessing food for her family of four. The Mobile Market was the answer to a prayer.
Pat usually goes to a food bank in Siler City to get food. She has been on dialysis for the last three years. When asked what she thinks of the availability of food at the Mobile Market, she said, “I know God’s smiling on me!”
Brinn, who heard about the Market from his sister-in-law, said that, despite the fact that he’s out of work, his family is managing pretty well because his wife is working as a nurse at a hospital in Butner. He was pleasantly surprised by the amount of food he and his family of seven received at the Market. “It helps, doesn’t it? All of us being at home, we eat a lot. It doesn’t take long to see the back of the refrigerator.”
Tracey is out of work and said that “groceries are way expensive!” She is helping her grandparents and aunt, who are also out of work due to COVID-19. Her grandmother fell and had to have surgery, which has caused an added struggle for the family. About the food they all received at the Mobile Market, Tracey said, “We absolutely appreciate it. We really appreciate it. It really helps. It makes me want to cry.”
Tina came to the Market with her three daughters. She is a stay-at-home mom and life under COVID-19 has been a struggle, even with her husband working. “I couldn’t find anything at the store.” She was amazed by the amount of food she received at the Mobile Market. “It’s a relief. It provides for my kids. I’ll be able to cook a good dinner. I just want to say a big ‘thank you’. God bless you. You helped feed my girls.”
Eddy says his mom called him and told him “she heard they were giving away free food”. His mom is out of work, but Eddy—at the age of 18-- is holding down a job at a local grocery store and is supporting his family of five. They have been getting food through the school meals program and what Eddy has been able to buy at the store, so the Mobile Market was a big help. “Thank you for the support,” said Eddy. “We’re very thankful.
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle coordinated the Chatham County Mobile Market, and have many to thank for assistance in bringing the effort together: the National Guard soldiers who worked alongside Food Shuttle staff at the event, Union Special Bread, St. Julia Catholic Church, Hilary Pollan of the Chatham County Manager’s Office, Colby Sawyer of the Chatham County Emergency Management Office, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, and the Chatham Community Library. We also want to thank the many growers who provided the fresh produce that was distributed at the Market: Hillberry Farms, Mark Small Farms, Wood’s Produce, W.I. Welloms, C.V. Pilson, Sharp Farms, Fresh-Pik Produce, Pretty Girl Farms, and Dean’s Farm.
Food Shuttle staff and the National Guard soldiers working at the Mobile Market were touched by the outpouring of gratitude expressed by those who received food as they drove through the distribution lines. The words and gestures of all can be summed up in the declaration called out by one gentleman as he prepared to drive away: “God bless you all. Thank you all for being here because this is a big help!” Words like that made working all those hours in the heat of the day totally worth it.
For general information on Food Shuttle Mobile Markets and a current schedule, please visit our website.
