Food bank balances helping community and aiding migrants shelter

Unemployment is up and school is out for the summer making it the Yuma Community Food Bank’s busiest season.

Community members are questioning how the Food Bank and other organizations are able to assist the community while also helping with humanitarian aid as thousands of asylum seekers are entering our region every month.

The Yuma Community Food Bank said its assistance with the migrant shelter is not causing a shortage for the Yuma community.

The food bank explained they are separating donations to make sure the Yuma community is served.

” [It’s] because the needs are different for the migrant community are far different than what it is for our local residents. They’re mobile, ” said Shara Whitehead with the Yuma Community Food Bank.

Whitehead explained what the migrants are receiving.

” They’re staying here for a couple of days, and then they’re moving out so what they’re needing is more like travel packs. Food that’s easy to open because they don’t have any funding during their journey, ” said Whitehead.

The food bank has given 57,000 pounds of food to the migrant shelter since it opened its doors in April and about 93,000 Yuma locals have been fed by the food bank so far this summer.

Locals that visit the food bank are able to get a food pack once a month and must prove their residency, according to Whitehead.

The food bank is also looking for volunteers to help and is always taking donations.

If you would like to help, call (928) 343-1243.