When the former food pantry truck at SERVE Inc. was on its last legs, the plea went out. Before too long, the call was answered.
The big yellow 2013 International box truck was parked on the south side of the Callaway Bank Friday morning when bank officials handed over a $5,000 check to help pay for the vehicle.
"Callaway Bank proposed a challenge to raise $5,000 for the purchase of the truck," said Rick Gohring, market president of the bank. "The community raised a little over $23,000 in six to eight weeks."
Kim Barnes, president and CEO of the bank, also serves as chair of the SERVE Inc. board.
"The community supports SERVE very well year round," she said.
Steve Mallinckrodt, SERVE Inc.'s executive director, said the organization's new truck replaces a smaller 1999 truck, also an International, that leaked, had a dodgy door and broke down frequently.
"This is going to make our weekend pickups at the food bank in Columbia and other donations at the Walmart in Mexico and Sam's Club in Mexico," Mallinckrodt said. "We'll use it to deliver food to satellite (food) pantries in Holts Summit and Williamsburg. And things like last week when we had the opportunity to make a quick trip to pick up produce from a truck wreck."
SERVE Inc.'s food pantry helps about 900 families - more than 3,000 people - a month, according to Mallinckrodt. In 2015, the organization distributed 689,473 pounds of food.
The box on the new truck is 26 feet long, compared to the old truck's 20-foot box.
"It has a heavier-duty and bigger lift gate, so it's safer," Mallinckrodt said. "We're going to get logos for it; we're waiting for a bid."
The truck has 108,000 miles on it and will be in service for years to come, Barnes said.
"It'll last us awhile," she said, smiling.
Mallinckrodt said the bank's challenge grant made all the difference in the quality of truck the organization could purchase.
"The community just stepped up and blew us away," he said. "I'm so grateful for the generosity of the Callaway community."
Barnes added, "We ask, and when there's a legitimate need, the community answers."