New food pantry is welcome at Vera French | Local News

A new food pantry has opened in Davenport, and it represents nearly the 200th for those who partner with River Bend Foodbank.

This pantry will be open twice each month and is intended for tenants of Vera French Housing, Davenport. It is located in an apartment complex at 215 E. 37th St.

Stacy Kiser-Willey, executive director of Vera French Housing, got the idea for the food pantry after hearing a talk by Mike Miller, River Bend's executive director.

The Vera French apartments have about 137 residents and families. Many are on limited incomes, with money becoming short by the end of each month, Kiser-Willey said. Before the pantry opened on Wednesday, the tenants were directed to another pantry location or helped out to an extent from the apartment complex office.

"In the past three years, we have really seen people run short at the end of each month," Kiser-Willey said.

The pantry is operating on a budget, which needs donations, and volunteers including from the food bank.

One volunteer is Wayne Jochmann, Bettendorf, who has helped start up two other food pantries in Davenport. 

Jochmann helped to organize the supplies and also offered up a numbers system. Those who shop in the pantry each will get a number, which helps the operation go more smoothly if several customers are waiting in line.

This will be helpful at Vera French; on the first day of operation, folks were in line 30 minutes before it officially opened.

The pantry is open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., but Kiser-Willey said the times might be adjusted to better serve the tenants.

It's a welcome addition to River Bend's operation.

"They stepped up to the plate and have a dedicated facility," Miller said. "We are happy to do our part."

The new pantry meets the needs of a focused population, and it's very convenient for tenants, he said. This is all part of the food bank's goal to double the number of meals served in the organization's 22-county area.

"The only way to do that is to increase pantry capacity," Miller said, adding that Scott County has the most under-served residents in River Bend's region.

"We love having new partners like Vera French Housing," he said.