Gardner's Hope Market Seeks Truck Donations

0:00The Hope Market Food Pantry and Gardener is calling on the community for donations to buy a box truck. They've helped thousands of families, but demand has jumped 22% in the last year alone, and they need better transport to keep up. Rising grocery prices are hitting hard, forcing folks to choose between rent, utilities, or food. Without a truck, the pantry can't pick up big pallets of donations from distribution centers, even when the need is there. Local leaders like executive director Melissa Prins say families are struggling big time, and neighbor Betty Moench calls it vital for keeping kids. Fed and easing the burden on residents. What sets this place apart is its grocery store setup, where shoppers leave without a bill. The Gardener road reclub stepped up with a $15,000 challenge grant, and now the Hope Market needs to match it through donations to snag. That truck, by summertime. With more families lining up every day, pitching in now could make all the difference in putting food on tables across Gardener. Stay informed with Kansas News today, AI-powered updates.

1:03I'm Corey with The Story.