The Greene County Action Resource Center serves less fortunate families all year round in the county.

Diane Blackmer with the ARC says in September, they served 87 families, in October that number jumped to 132 families and in November they served 97 families.  She states that they give people a week’s worth of food along with some hygienic items like soap and shampoo.

She talks about where they get most of their non-perishable items when local donations run low.

“We’re able to get some of the non-perishable foods from the Food Bank (of Iowa) down in Des Moines and when we can do that, we end up paying 14-16 cents per pound for food.  At times when the Food Bank supplies are low, then of course we have to buy wherever we can get the best prices and we try to buy locally as much as we can.”

Blackmer points out that there has been a growing need for people to get their food from them at the ARC and she appreciates everyone’s support with their donations.

The ARC is usually open every Wednesday and the third Saturday of every month, but due to Christmas and New Year’s Eve being on Wednesdays this year, the ARC is closed both of those days.