Staff writer
For Peabody resident Kristina Roussell, the Marion County Resource Center Food Bank is a valuable resource with friendly service.
“It helps us monthly, it helps with extra food,” Roussell said.
Roussell has four children but her family is not covered by food stamps, she said.
“It helps when you don’t get food benefits,” Roussell said.
In addition to helping with food, the food bank has school supplies available for families, she said.
“Whatever is on your school list, on your supplies list, they will provide for you,” Roussell said. “It has helped out over the years.”
The Marion food bank helps residents from across the county, food bank helper Cathy Henderson said.
The only area the Marion location doesn’t directly supply school materials to is Hillsboro, Henderson said. Instead, families bring their school list and it is emailed to the Hillsboro school district, who gathers the items for the families.
Since they work such a large area, the Marion location is prone to running out of certain items, particularly school supplies, Henderson said, and they ran out of most school supplies by 10:30 a.m. Monday.
The food bank has received significant help from residents and local businesses, Henderson said.
“It’s been very positive, very positive, yes,” she said. “And particularly Lanning’s Pharmacy, they’ve been online promoting school supplies.”
The accessibility of the Marion food bank is important too, Roussell said.
“We have a food bank in Peabody too, but that’s only open on Saturdays,” she said.
The Marion food bank hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Monday 8:30 a.m. to noon, and 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 16.