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Farmers Feeding Families program helping Jerome community, announces third round of deliveries

Posted at 4:02 PM, Sep 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-02 17:08:10-04

JEROME, Idaho — In October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the approval of the third round of Farmers to Families food box deliveries.

As Idaho News 6 has reported, to help our farmers who've been hit hard by the impacts of the pandemic, the USDA purchased hundreds of millions of dollars worth of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, and dairy products to be given away for free without eligibility requirements or documentation.

Just some of those food boxes go to Martha and Mary's Food Pantry in Jerome.

Each week, Jeff Schroeder and a group of volunteers distribute the boxes full of produce provided by the program. They say they've seen a huge surge in folks needing help because of the pandemic.

In the month of August alone, they say their team served more than 700 families in the Jerome area.

"It's been huge. It's not only the need of the food, it's the need of socializing, it's the need of coming together to be with other people. Just feeling comfortable," explained Jeff Schroeder, with Martha and Mary's Food Ministries in Jerome. "To say that we just are here, that's the most important message. if they feel they have the need and need some assistance, they can come and pick it up--no matter what their issues are."

A group particularly in need are seniors.

"There's a lot of older people that need to choose between medicine and food and a lot of time they'll have to choose the medicine. So having this food available to them helps them," Schroeder said.

Schroeder says often, seniors don't feel comfortable asking for help--but he says it's important not to feel embarrassed.

"We're here just to provide the gifts we've been given and to share those gifts, and not waste food," Schroeder said. "That's another part of this program--there's a lot of food that goes to waste--so this food isn't going to waste it's going to people that are in need."

James Fetterly knows firsthand what it's like to battle COVID-19 and he says he's grateful for the support he received from the program while he was recovering. Now, he gives back as a volunteer at the pantry.

"When they put you in that hospital room and they shut that door, you're in there by yourself. All you can do then is lay there and think--so it's scary," Fetterly said. "After you lay in that hospital bed for a while, it makes you start thinking about your friends and the people that are helping you to survive. They give out food and they're not afraid to give out a lot of it. What else can you ask for?"

More than 100 million food boxes have been distributed in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the program.

The Jerome recipients of the federal food program have said "Thank You" in a unique way.

The recipients of the program have created a display full of hundreds of American flags with a message of thanks. Each flag represents a Jerome family the program helped feed.

"It's just a small act of gratitude that each one of our families can demonstrate how, in our diversity, we can still have unity in our gratitude," explained Schroeder.

If you need help, there are lots of food pantries in and around the Magic Valley! Click here for a map.