The Wesley Evening
Food Pantry began as a response to a community need for a food pantry with
evening hours. Since November 2006, the Wesley Evening Food Pantry has provided
groceries, health, education, and human services for area residences on the
third Thursday of each month.
Over the last year, the pantry has
served approximately 1100 persons per month. Approximately 100 volunteers spend
two days in preparation for the one evening of service each month. As patrons
wait for their randomly-selected number to be called, they can visit with
representatives from local social services agencies. Many volunteers have been
trained in Spanish to assist area residents with the process. Among the goals
of the Pantry are: to provide a week’s worth of food to assist people through
the end of the month when pay checks and Food Stamps may be low; to schedule
the food pantry in the evening to accommodate work and school responsibilities;
to respect self-determination as participants select their own food items to
match their family’s needs; and to provide regular resource centers of
information, referral, and health consultation.
Recently, responding to awareness
that students are a part of the food-insecure community, Wesley Pantry has
initiated a monthly pantry at Parkland
College
No comments:
Post a Comment