The Mobile Food Pantry (MFP) delivers healthy, perishable foods directly to areas of high need with the use of a converted, refrigerated beverage truck.  Perishable food items are loaded on the truck at our Greeley facility and driven to the designated community where it is met by volunteers who help unload and distribute the food.  Currently the program serves the communities of Hudson, Dacono, Ft. Lupton, Frederick, Keenesburg, Lochbuie, Greeley, Evans, Milliken, Pierce, Windsor, Gilcrest, Kersey, and Mead.  On average, 200+ households are served at each distribution.  The truck holds 10,000lbs of produce, meat, and low-fat dairy and it provided over 2.3 million lbs of these perishables to 98,498 individuals in 25,279 households last FY.

Despite the fact that the MFP currently serves 15 different stops on a regularly occurring monthly schedule, there are still areas of high need that the food bank is currently unable to meet.  With the requested funding, WFB would be able to add 3 additional monthly stops to the MFP schedule.  Both Platteville and the Hill n’ Park area have requested MFPs.  In addition, Ft. Lupton has requested we add an additional monthly MFP stop in their community as there is such a high need.  Each MFP distribution costs approximately $2,500 in food costs.  The perishable products average 25 cents/lb and 10,000 lbs of healthy food is distributed at each MFP.  The food bank has been able to provide occasional MFP distributions in both Hill n’ Park and in Platteville, but has not had the funding to schedule monthly distributions.

The MFP addresses not just food insecurity, but also health.  Nintey seven percent of food bank clients report eating more fruits and vegetables when they access the MFP.  This is particularly important because 85% of clients report they purchase food solely based on price, not nutrition.  Last year in the U.S., food insecurity led to an additional $77.5 billion in health care costs.   The MFP program is evidence based.  

2020-2021 People Served by Area of Weld County

• Carbon Valley (Berthoud, Dacono, Erie, Firestone, Frederick, Longmont, Mead, Northglenn, Thornton): 23277
• County Seat (Evans, Garden City, Greeley): 60107
• Outback (Briggsdale, Grover, New Raymer): 0
• Poudre River Corridor (Severance, Windsor): 2850
• South County (Brighton, Fort Lupton, Hudson, Keenesburg, Lochbuie): 19376
• Thompson River Valley (Johnstown, Milliken): 7295
• US-85 Corridor South (Platteville, Gilcrest, LaSalle, Kersey): 7598
• US-85 Corridor North (Eaton, Ault, Pierce, Nunn): 2349
• Outside Weld County: 0

Find out more about this program:
2019-2020
2020-2021

One of our volunteers spoke with a student at a school MFP distribution. This elementary school child told our volunteer how excited he was to receive apples and carrots. He said he has 2 younger siblings at home, and he tries to bring any extra food he has from his school lunch home to them. He said his younger brother LOVES apples and he couldn't wait to take them home and surprise him.