Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank asking for your help during special fundraising event

MASON CITY —  Times are challenging for the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank in Mason City, and they are asking for your help during a special fundraising event this month.

The Food Bank’s Ozzie Ohl says there have been cutbacks to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as well as federal funds that normally help the Food Bank of Iowa that are having an impact on getting food. The food bank is also dealing with the inflation of food prices and more clients coming in for help.

Ohl says the fundraising event called “Give Where You Live” has local businesses and benefactors helping raise money on a matching donation basis.  “We’ve got several local businesses, a couple of anonymous individuals that have come together, and they’ve created a pool of $11,250. If someone gives us $25, it’s like they gave us $50 because of the match, or if they give us $100, it’s like they gave us $200. That helps a lot because $100 buys a lot of food at 16-cents a pound what we can get at the Food Bank of Iowa, that buys a lot of food.”

Ohl says there are other ways you can help out the Food Bank.   “Some people, if you can’t make a financial donation and you’ve got a garden, bring some of your produce in between 9:00-10:30 in the morning. If you don’t have produce and don’t have the financial resources, you might want to consider becoming a volunteer for the food bank. It’s a wonderful organization, and for a few hours each week, you can do a whole lot of good.”

People can send a check to the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank, PO Box 1565, Mason City, Iowa 50402, or they can drop off their donation at 122 South Adams.      

Listen to our full interview with Ohl by clicking on the audio player below