Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
ST. STEPHEN'S CUPBOARD
ST. STEPHEN'S CUPBOARD. Steve Jacobs, employed in the grocery business, witnessed the large amount of wasted food. As a volunteer at the DUBUQUE RESCUE MISSION, he began a nationwide search of recycling food and discovered the concept of bood banking. The concept was to use food that could not be sold and would normally be thrown away. He established the St. Stephen's Food Bank in 1982 in Dubuque and distributed 25,000 pounds of food the first year. He then convinced Eagle Discount Supermarkets to donate up to 150,000 pounds of food annually including baked goods. (1)
By 1988 the Cupboard, renamed the St. Stephen's Food Bank, used less than 900 square feet at the Dubuque Rescue Mission and had rented space in the former convent behind ST. RAPHAEL'S CATHEDRAL. The food bank had to leave that area when the owner decided to install an art gallery. Faced with the need for space, the organization relocated to a new warehouse, part of ANDERSON-WEBER at 245 Railroad Avenue. The 4,000-square-foot facility included a semi-trailer loading dock and provided space for offices and additional storage. The expansion allowed room for a large walk-in cooler for meat and dairy produce and space to allow more hours of operation. (2)
By 1989 the food bank had distributed nearly 1 million pounds of food. With its success, the organization in 1990 had expanded to help forty agencies in seven counties including senior citizen meal programs, food pantries, group homes, and the ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY. Jacobs also participated in gardening to produce vegetables for the Rescue Mission. He was also a member of Bread for the World which raised money for the nation's hungry. In 1990 Jacobs received the Sertoma Club Service to Mankind Award for a five-state region. (3)
In 1991 the unexpectedly short PERSIAN GULF WAR led to vast amounts of food unneeded by the military. St. Stephen's was scheduled to receive 4,000 pounds, valued at an estimated $10,000. The food was received by the River Bend Food Bank in Moline, Illinois and reallocated. St. Stephen's distributed the food to Dubuque area food banks, soup kitchens, nursing homes and other not-for-profit organizations which gave food to the needy. (4)
St. Stephen's was annually one of the non-profit organization involved in the "Great-Give-Day" sponsored by the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DUBUQUE.
The 1987 Dubuque City Directory listed 398 Main.
The 1993 Dubuque City Directory listed St. Stephen's Food Bank at 245 Railroad Avenue.
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Source:
1. Gilson, Donna, "Dubuquer Wins Regional Service to Mankind Award," Telegraph Herald, April 27, 1990, p. 5B
2. Chanaud, Timothy, "Dubuque Food Bank to Move From Mission to Warehouse," Telegraph Herald, October 25, 1988, p. 21
3. Gilson
4. Gallo, Matthew, "Gulf War Food Surplus to Help Area Needy," Telegraph Herald, July 25, 1991, p. 3A