775 pounds of cheese is being handed out to those who need it.

Local dairy farmers, Kevin Frankenbach and Gary Wieman, got the idea to raise money for cheese.

KHQA spoke with Frankenbach Monday.

He says food pantries usually get a good portion of food, but sometimes lack nutrient rich foods like dairy.

So just two months ago he and Wieman got together and collected the money and bought the cheese.

It was delivered Monday from Wisconsin in the form of three pound loaves of sliced cheese.

"We felt there was a lot of need this year because of the economy. A lot of people need help. If it's going to be a continuing effort, if we have church groups and such that want to contribute, they should contact myself or Gary," says Frankenbach.

Frankenbach told me the cheese was given out to eight or nine food pantries ranging from Palmyra and Monroe City to Barry and Pike County Illinois.