Overton County will purchase five vehicles to support local food pantries and non-profits in combating food insecurity.
County Executive Steven Barlow said local organizations rely heavily on volunteers to operate food distributions, making the grant especially valuable. Barlow said it helps cover major expenses the organizations would otherwise struggle to afford.
“These non-profit places, they don’t charge for this food,” Barlow said. “Somebody has to pay for the food that they pick up. It’s strictly a volunteer thing. They don’t get paid to work.”
Barlow said some of the local food services serve hundreds of families each week. Barlow said he hopes the vehicles help the organizations better serve the families in need.
“When you’ve got 20-something thousand people in the county and about 300 and something families need a little assistance, you’re still talking about a small portion,” Barlow said. “But when you get into the percentage-wise, it’s still a big need for that as well.”
Barlow said some of the local food banks and non-profits not only help feed families in Overton County but also surrounding counties as well. Barlow said the county selected local organizations after an application period. Barlow said the program is a one-time funding opportunity.
“That’s funding from the COVID relief funds, which is just a one-time funding opportunity for food insecurities,” Barlow said. “They can get refrigerators and stoves and things that are non-perishable that these food groups need. They can get vehicles and such.”
The Five Loaves Food Pantry will receive a 12-foot non-refrigerated box truck estimated at $96,057, as well as a 17-foot refrigerated truck estimated at $114,095.
The Love Thy Neighbor Community Food Pantry at First Baptist Church of Livingston will receive a regular cab truck estimated at $100,234.
Co-ARM will receive a truck estimated at $54,675, while the Overton County Senior Center will receive a Pacifica van estimated at $42,905.
A Community Development Block Grant will allow for the purchase of five vehicles.