The Open Door’s (TOD) Mobile Pantry bus has been a staple of the Mobile Pantry Program since it kicked off in 2012/2013. While the Mobile Pantry Program is alive and well – visiting 23+ locations every month – the bus made its last stop at the end of 2023, wrapping up a decade-long career of delivering fresh and healthy food to TOD clients across Dakota County.
The bus allowed TOD to start getting fresh and healthy food to people out in the community. It has visited senior living facilities, elementary schools, colleges, apartment complexes, and more for a DECADE!
Implementing the Mobile Pantry Program, and utilizing the Mobile Pantry Bus, was revolutionizing for TOD. It broke down barriers for clients who couldn’t get to TOD’s brick-and-mortar pantry due to transportation, mobility, time
restrictions, health, and more. The Mobile Pantry Program/Mobile Pantry Bus even won an award for its innovation and creativity. But, as the Mobile Pantry Program grew from just a handful of sites to 23+ every month, things evolved and changed.
To accommodate larger distributions, with a higher number of clients shopping, food moved off of the bus and onto tables set up outside of the bus, or set up inside of the distributions building, like in a senior facilities great room. Think farmer’s market style shopping where you walk past tables lined with fresh produce.
The pandemic forced change as well. Clients, volunteers, and staff couldn’t be in close proximity on the bus, so the distribution of food had to come off the bus. The change proved to better serve clients, as well as volunteers. This allowed for more clients to “shop” during a distribution and drastically increased efficiency! A fleet of cargo vans were eventually introduced as well as a small box truck and larger, refrigerated truck; both with motorized lift gates for easier loading and unloading.
While nearly all TOD’s Mobile Pantry sites changed to the newer distribution model, there were a couple bus sites still running in 2023. These wrapped in December, and the bus officially left TOD’s parking lot in the spring. The changes to TOD’s Mobile Pantry distributions have improved client experience, streamlined logistics and improved efficiency, but everyone certainly has fond memories of the Mobile Pantry bus. It was a fundamental part of The Open Door’s Mobile Pantry Program and will always remain a fun, pivotal piece of our history as an organization!
Leave a Reply