WEEOC is providing a drive-by food pantry to help families. | Contributed photo
WEEOC is providing a drive-by food pantry to help families. | Contributed photo
After the The Du Quoin Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Center (WEEOC) canceled an event at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds due to COVID-19, it was left with 27,000 pounds of food that the office has decided to give to families in need.
WEEOC was planning on hosting a food fair with service agencies inside an Exhibit Hall. Ashley Greer, a community service coordinator for the WEEOC, and 15 other volunteers with the WEEOC still hosted a food fair while following social-distancing guidelines.
"We ran it like our mobile markets, only it was bigger," Greer told the Du Quoin Call.
Volunteers packaged boxes of food and gave them to 219 families. The boxes were placed in the cars as the families drove through the parking lot, according to the newspaper.
WEEOC also has two food pantries it operates, but has had to cut back to only operating one from 1-3 p.m. every Thursday.
Cutting back food pantry hours will help keep volunteers safe, Greer said. The pantry is also receiving enough donations to only operate one day a week. Greer said the pantry is operating in the same method as the food fair, with cars lining up and being loaded by volunteers.
Alerts Sign-up