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OTTUMWA -- They are calling it a Christmas miracle. The Food Bank of Southern Iowa recently launched an initiative called the “Revolving Food Fund.”

And $100,000 was the amount the not-for-profit organization desired to be raised to help give the fund a jumpstart.

On Friday, the Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation presented the Food Bank of Southern Iowa with a check for $100,000 to help launch the fund.

In Wapello County, 23% of children are food insecure.

Executive Director of the food bank Neal Abbott said the “Revolving Food Fund” is designed to purchase both staples and food from wholesalers and re-sell to pantries at discounted prices.

“This is great. I've actually had this in the back of my mind for about three years. We've talked about it at board meetings and the biggest issue was the financing of the project and now we have that. I didn't find out until yesterday this was coming so I’m still kind of amazed and shocked,” said Abbott.

For the Legacy Foundation, the Food Bank of Southern Iowa fits in perfectly with their mission.

“As we talked about with the foundation, we try to leverage the work that we're doing and it was really the perfect way to get that money and help out to the community as opposed to trying to single out a single pantry and also like the sustainability of a revolving fund. So that is something that we continue to exist long after we've made our first grants of the $100,000,” said Brad Little, President of the Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation.

The Food Bank of Southern Iowa serves 13 counties. For more information on how to donate of volunteer, click here.