Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
ST. STEPHEN'S FOOD BANK
ST. STEPHEN'S FOOD BANK. In 2022 a branch of Davenport's River Bend Food Bank, St. Stephen's Food Bank was co-founded in 1982 by John J. ROLLING and Steve Jacobs. Rolling had observed the opening of a food pantry in Yuma, Arizona and returned to Dubuque with the idea of starting one here. In cooperation with the DUBUQUE RESCUE MISSION, St. Stephen's opened in a small part of the mission and offered food to anyone in need. (1)
In 2014 St. Stephen's Food Bank served agencies in Jo Daviess County, Illinois; Grant County, Wisconsin; and Dubuque, Clayton, Delaware, Jackson, and Jones counties in Iowa. Vans and trucks from the food bank's 110 partner agencies picked up food to be distributed to their clients through food pantries, care centers, scout troops and senior meal sites.
As an example used in the Telegraph Herald indicated, purchasers for food pantries such as one operated by the ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY could purchase from St. Stephen's 518 pounds of food worth $896 if purchased at retail prices for $64.22. A per pound handling fee covered St. Stephen's costs.
In 2013 the Iowa Emergency Food Purchase Program was funded by the Iowa Legislature. It provided a dollar-for-dollar match to each food bank according to its distribution numbers. In 2014 St. Stephen's received $25,000. The funds had to be used to buy nutritious food products and food donated by companies (through Feeding America) and by the public. (2)
In 2022 the food bank occupied 6,000 square feet and provided about two million meals annually or roughly 10% of the total number of meals River Bend provide in the same period of time to its 23-county service area. An estimated 40% of the distribution went to backpacks of food for local students, mobile pantries, school pantries, and the hospital pantry at MERCYONE DUBUQUE MEDICAL CENTER. ST. LUKE'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH relied on St. Stephen's for an estimated 95% of its weekly Food for the Soul program which provided free community meals. (3)
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Source:
1. London, Michelle, "Food Bank Celebrates 40 Years," Telegraph Herald, July 22, 2022, p. 1A
2. Nevans-Pederson, Mary, "Iowa Program Makes Deposit at Food Banks," Telegraph Herald, February 15, 2014, p. 5
3. London, p. 3A