Mobile Food Pantry Helps Southern Tier Residents

Several tons of food items were distributed to dozens of people who lined up in a parking lot on Binghamton's East Side.

They showed up Tuesday (March 8) for the monthly mobile food pantry operated by the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.

Joseph Kent loaded about 8,000 pounds of food into a truck in the morning and drove from the Elmira area to Binghamton.

Kent said the amount of food available in the mobile pantry would serve about 170 families. He said the types of food distributed may vary with more fresh produce available during the summer.

Those who waited in line for the distribution said they appreciated the opportunity to obtain food for their families.

Sharon Nieminski, a community volunteer, said the Food Bank started sending a truck filled with food to the Binghamton neighborhood last year.

Nieminski said the American Legion on Robinson Street has allowed its parking lot to be used for the food distribution. She said some people wait in line for a few hours before the distribution gets underway.

The mobile food pantry is scheduled to be at the site the second Tuesday of each month this year. The food is distributed from noon to 1 p.m.

Those picking up food are advised to bring their own bags, boxes or carts to transport their items.

No identification is required to receive food but people must sign in because the distribution is conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.