Seniors help seniors at Marion food bank
Staff writer
Senior volunteers often work under the radar in Marion, but their work is vital to the community.
Nowhere is that more apparent than at Marion County Food Bank, where roughly 60 volunteers, almost all senior citizens, prepare and distribute food for those less fortunate.
The food bank is housed in a deceptively large warehouse on the corner of Cedar and Main St.
It operates from 9 a.m. to noon Monday and 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, though volunteers work around the week to stock shelves and keep things in order.
Retired nurse Cathy Henderson, 82, is a board member at the food bank. She helps with scheduling and works as a kind of daily manager.
“We started out down at Valley Church,” Henderson said.
The food bank operated for more than half a century in the church office, though it was more a food pantry back then. The church had only one refrigerator and a handful of volunteers.
In 2015, the organization relocated to an abandoned gas station on Main St., where a new health department building is now under construction.
“It had an overhang,” Henderson said. “We were in the weather, and so forth.”
During the coronavirus pandemic, which curtailed the food bank’s effectiveness in the windowless gas station, the warehouse was built — entirely with donated money, Henderson said.
The food bank receives supplies from Kansas Food Bank in Wichita and through local donations.
“Probably every business in town” donates food, Henderson said.
Marion’s community garden provides fresh produce, though the impending winter means the food bank soon will switch to canned greens.
“Right now, we have about 700 pounds of sweet potatoes,” Henderson said.
County churches, which collect food from their congregations on Sundays, also are vital to the food bank. Henderson expressed gratitude for the number of churches that help out.
“Even little Durham,” she said.
The food bank does not check customers’ income, instead relying on an honor system.
“If you live in Marion County, that’s the only requirement,” Henderson said.
Customers can take two blue bags of food once every two weeks. The size of the bags depends on family size. Those 60 and older can get an extra income-based food box once a month.
Seniors play a big role on both sides of the food bank.
“Probably every one” of the organization’s volunteers are seniors, said Gene Winkler, the food bank’s record-keeper. “We might have one or two under 60.”
“We’re not a young staff,” Henderson added.
Seniors often have the time and the desire to help their communities.
“As you get older, and maybe you’re the lone one in your house, it’s something you can do and feel good about yourself,” Henderson said. “I love it, since I can’t do nursing anymore. I just don’t think there should be, in America, people who are hungry.”
A strong bond exists between food bank volunteers. Many have recently retired or lost family members to age and illness. There also are those who have been hungry themselves.
A large percentage of seniors rely on Marion’s food bank. Last year, the organization served customers 10,053 times. Over one in five of those visits was with a senior customer.
“Getting to the grocery story is an issue. And their income is usually less,” Henderson said. “A lot of them eat down at the senior center, their lunches. But they also come here and get groceries.”
An older gentleman drove up to the food bank to pick up his boxes.
“The people here are some of the kindest people,” he said. “They know what they’re doing, they know what products they’ve got, and they’re very helpful.
“They take care of my little doggy and give her treats and pet her. She’s a family member.”
If you are able to donate, the food bank is seeking pasta, spaghetti sauce, canned green beans, chicken noodle soup.
It also is looking for Thanksgiving and Christmas food items this holiday season.