Boxes lined the bays at the Route 66 Pavilion in Chandler as volunteers waited to help make a difference.
The Helping Hands Community Foundation handed out 1,300 food boxes to those in need Saturday, July 18, at the Route 66 Pavilion in Chandler, just south of the football stadium.
Co-Founder Sabra Denson said Go Fresh donated the 1,3000 boxes, which was a total of $18,000.
Denson said this is the biggest haul they’ve had so far.
The Lincoln County Farm Center also donated a forklift and driver to unload the semi-truck that brought the boxes of food.
Denson said without the help from the Farm Center, it would have been much harder and taken much longer to get set up.
The day started at 9 a.m., Denson reached out to churches throughout Lincoln County to see if they wanted to come pick up boxes and distribute them in their local area.
Eight churches showed up and hauled off boxes to share with those in need.
By 10:30 a.m., more than 1,000 boxes had already been handed out.
During the school year, boxes were delivered to the house, Denson said this haul was too big for that, which is why they set up a drive through line.
Denson said they will be doing both, deliveries and pick-ups, from now on.
Looking ahead, Denson said three new pantries will be installed in the next few weeks.
One will go to Meeker and will be placed outside Kristen Ludi’s Shelter Insurance office.
One will go to Davenport and will be placed outside the Senior Citizens Center.
The third one will go to Carney and will be placed outside the Dorthy Smith Clinic.
Denson said the goal is to place a food pantry in every town in Lincoln County.
“We’re looking for the best location in each town,” she said.