Douglas County’s food bank bounced back from a recent supply shortage, followed by a fire at the location where it produces meals, but the need to feed community members persists, aggressively.
“The need is higher than it’s really ever been,” said Aundrea Walker, executive director of Just Food.
The fire occurred behind a commercial stove on Tuesday at Just Food’s Chop Shop, 805 Vermont St. in downtown Lawrence, a shared space with JB’s Cali Fusion. No one was hurt, and there was no structural damage as a result.
Just Food staff members prepare ready-to-eat meals Mondays through Wednesdays at Chop Shop. They package the meals and bring them to the pantry for dissemination each week. Due to the fire, staff announced Tuesday that production would be temporarily paused.
But Walker said Friday that Chop Shop has now been approved to resume and will be back up and running Tuesday, Sept. 3, since Monday is Labor Day.
A week ago, Just Food faced another hurdle.
All the food bank’s shelves, fridges, freezers and even its warehouse were “dangerously empty” heading into the weekend. Staff members asked folks to donate if they could — and many did.
“We are very grateful for the community support,” Walker said. “And community is definitely key in what we do, and having them come together was just absolutely amazing.”
Walker said the community responded by donating more than 10,000 pounds of food in less than 22 hours.
“But the reality is the need is so great that all that food that was donated has already been shopped and gone out,” she said. “So while we purchase more food and we have some more stock, like everything that walked through the door — like that’s how great the need is — 10,000 pounds lasted about a week. And we spend $40,000 on food every single month. So it’s just wild.”
Last week, 1,415 households, or 3,070 individuals, came through Just Food, Walker said.
As food prices continue to surge alongside cost of living, property taxes, medical bills and more, individuals and families face disparities.
“If you’re having to choose between paying rent or going without food, the majority of people are going to go without food in order to have a roof over their head,” Walker said. “Food not only is more expensive, but you have corporations that have created a system where now they’ve decreased the amount that goes into the packaging, so not only are you paying more, but you’re getting less, so it’s almost like a double inflation.”
August tends to be a difficult month for families because that’s when school begins, Walker said. School district fees, back-to-school clothing and school supplies can add up. It’s also one of the hottest months of the year, which means electric bills spike.
As a food bank, Just Food supplies more than 30 partners throughout the county, and around 20 of those are schools, according to Walker.
People interested in supporting Just Food’s work can help in several ways. The organization is hosting two major fundraising events in the coming weeks, including a fine dining experience at Bon Bon! on Sept. 17 and the Stocktoberfest on Sept. 22.
Food donations can be dropped off to Just Food’s pantry. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays at 1000 E. 11th St., near 11th Street and Haskell Avenue, in Lawrence.
For more information and ways to get involved, visit Just Food’s website, justfoodks.org.
Stay updated on the organization’s Instagram, @justfoodkansas, and Facebook page.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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