By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Some nasty weather across the Midwest this spring has kept Midwest Food Bank busy.

“It’s been a little on the light side the last couple of years, but it look like things are a lot different this year,” Operations Director Mike Hoffman said.

The Bloomington food bank has been busier than usual. Along with serving more than 250 food pantries in Central Illinois on a weekly basis, Hoffman said Midwest has sent two truckloads of food to the Arlington, Texas area which has been hit with tornadoes and flooding in recent weeks.

Midwest is also sending a shipment of food to help victims along the Texas-Mexico border, while the Salvation Army will handle transporting the food into Mexico across the border from Del Rio.

“Getting it across the border can be tricky sometimes, ” Hoffman said. “They’ll be able to get it out a lot faster.”

Midwest is asking the public for financial donations so it can restock its emergency supplies.

“People always want to know how they can help,” Hoffman said. “This is just a way you can help by actually helping us help others and they food will actually go into the hands of those who need it.

Hoffman said each pre-packaged truckload of food which can feed 800 families for five days costs $20,000. Snacks and Gatorade are also provided for emergency volunteers working on site.

Red Cross

The Red Cross has announced it is sending six volutneers from Central Illinois to assist with relief efforts in Texas.

John Whitcomb of Bloomington, Don Durbin of Springfield, Dick Vogel of Clinton, Dave and Marsha Smith of Peoria and Paul Sierra from the Quad Cities will distribute supplies and assist with logistics.

The Red Cross has opened 37 shelters in Texas since early May.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].