We kept asking ourselves – how can we meet the needs of people in our community who are facing food insecurity but are unable to visit traditional food pantries because of distance or lack of transportation? In 2022, we addressed this issue head-on when we launched a mobile food pantry thanks to a generous donation by the Spezia family.
Lovingly nicknamed “Grandma’s Kitchen” in honor of family matriarchs, the mobile food pantry quickly became an essential part of The Care Service’s food pantry program.
Food deserts — areas where many residents face low incomes and limited access to grocery stores — exist across Lincoln and Warren Counties. With the addition of the mobile pantry, The Care Service was able to expand our food pantry program and reach families living in these underserved areas, delivering not only canned goods but also perishable items such as meat, dairy, and fresh vegetables. As a bonus, those visiting the mobile pantry were able to shop and make their own food choices from available options during each visit. Many of our mobile pantry clients are seniors living on fixed incomes, and the mobile pantry plays a vital role in helping them stretch every dollar.
Unfortunately, a severe hailstorm in 2024 damaged the mobile pantry beyond repair. While the search for a replacement vehicle moved forward, our staff and volunteers adapted to keep serving clients, even while perishable items were temporarily out of reach.
When it became obvious that a suitable truck could not be found, we began looking at other options. In late 2025, The Care Service purchased a trailer and began working to customize it to provide exactly what our clients need while staying compliant with health codes of all the areas we stop at. Teamwork was key – Food Pantry staff, our Facilities Manager, and volunteers installed specialized flooring, set up refrigeration, and assembled movable shelving.
Last Thursday our new mobile pantry hit the streets for its inaugural journey to our scheduled distributions in Warren County.
Thanks to a bit of out-of-the box ingenuity, food donations to fill the shelves, and donors who help us keep the gas tank full, people living in food deserts once again have local access to perishable foods.
We are deeply grateful to the Spezia family for their generosity to our food pantry program, as well as to all supporters who help keep our pantry shelves stocked. Because of your continued support, nearly 800 families benefited from The Care Service food pantry program in 2025.