Pantry in good shape (for now)

The shelves are stocked — for now.
But the folks at the Helping Hand Food Pantry know the next few months will be “crunch time” for local families.
The need for assistance isn’t going to go away.
An outpouring of Christmas-season generosity helped put the food bank in a relatively strong position at the first of the year.
“We’re very thankful for all the donations,” said Kelley Kilfoil, chief fiscal officer at Community and Family Services. “It was phenomenal.”
“We’re pretty well-stocked now,” said Jay County community service specialist Carly Nichols.
But CFS officials know it the situation is temporary.
“Our supplies will very quickly go down,” said Kilfoil.
Kilfoil and Nichols said the food pantry will soon be moving from its current location at 518 S. Wayne St. directly across the street to the CFS building at 521 S. Wayne St.
“I like the idea of having everything we do all in one building,” said Nichols, who is responsible for the energy assistance program and the thrift shop in addition to the food pantry. Beth Copeland is the new food pantry director.
“It’s safer,” said Kilfoil of the new location. “It’s better than across the street.”
The new location will roughly double the square footage available for the food pantry. The move is expected to take place by the end of January.
In addition to local donations from churches, service organizations, student groups, and individuals, the food pantry also receives assistance from the Second Harvest Food Bank, Minnich Poultry, and Peyton’s Northern.
But even with the shelves temporarily well-stocked, some items are always in demand. “We do need (breakfast) cereals,” said Nichols. “When we do get it donated, it’s gone.”
The food bank was closed Thursday to take deliveries from both Peyton’s and Second Harvest but will re-open Tuesday.
Normal hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to about 1 p.m.
But Nichols said the last vouchers are accepted at 12:15 p.m., so those in need of help should be there before that time.
“We’re looking at expanding those hours,” said Kilfoil.[[In-content Ad]]