Comtrea has been partnering with the St. Louis Area Food Bank to hold “no-contact” Food Drive-Thru events, providing local people in need with free groceries during the coronavirus pandemic.
The first event was held April 15, another was held April 22 and the next one is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday (April 29) at West City Park along Old Hwy. A in Festus.
The first distribution was held at the South Second Street parking lot behind Main Street near Mill Street in Festus, and it drew crowds well beyond expectations, said Rachael Bersdale, Comtrea’s chief behavioral health officer.
“We assisted 217 households (total of 821 individuals served with 317 of those being under the age of 18),” Bersdale said. “We did have to turn people down because we ran out of food.”
She said about 100 families were expected to show up at the event.
The food distribution was supposed to run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., but began early and ended early, she said.
“People started lining up before 8 a.m. We opened up at 10:30 a.m. because people were lined up (on South Second Street) all the way to Hwy. 61-67,” Bersdale said. “We had given out all the food and cleaned up by 12:15 p.m.”
Those who arrived were told to stay in their vehicles and pop open their trunks so Comtrea staff could put the food inside without contact with people.
The St. Louis Area Food Bank supplied the food.
“We had apples, raspberries, frozen onion rings, yogurt, kiwis, milk, honeydews and potatoes (which most people received),” Bersdale said. “We had some French onion dip and a little bit of cottage cheese and some heavy cream. We got four huge bags of chocolate ice cream. We gave those to families with many kids.
“Probably, the last 20 cars got reduced portions. We gave out everything we had.”
The April 22 food distribution was held at the First Baptist Church of Arnold, where Comtrea served 229 households, which was 905 individuals, including 378 children, Bersdale said.
She said the events are open to anyone in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
“There will be essentially no contact. There’s no paperwork required,” Bersdale said.
Those who come for food are asked to arrive with their trunks cleaned out. Only those in vehicles may participate; no “walk-ins” will be allowed in order to maintain social distancing.
Bersdale said it was the first time in memory for Comtrea to sponsor a community food distribution.