Food Pantry for Woodford County

In 1992, low income families in Woodford County did not have a single source for receiving assistance if their family needed help feeding themselves.  Especially at the end of the month when cash resources and food stamps had run out. A group of volunteers worked with the Ministerial Association of Woodford County to start the first food pantry for Woodford County in the basement of a church.  Through the years, the food pantry had to move to and from various locations to be able to serve the need in the community.  The food pantry had to rely on the generosity of churches and schools for a location for the food pantry.  Financially, this was good for the food pantry, because no rent was paid and very little was charged for utilities and water.  As society began to change, and the safety of our school children became imperative, the food pantry was forced to start looking for a new home. 

 In 2013, an all-volunteer Task Force was formed to raise $300,000 to build a new 4,500 sq. ft. food pantry with a warehouse, food pantry operation, and offices. This project became a community effort.  The engineering classes of the Woodford County High School led by teacher Jean Porter provided the drawings for the new food pantry.  This was a one-on-one project for the students as if they were actually working in their intended profession.  The teacher changed her lesson plan for the year because the students were going to learn more with this project than they would be able to get from their textbooks and it would be a hands-on memorable experience for the students as they helped do something for their community.  

The fundraising for this project began in November 2014. Local contractors were used when possible and just 15 months later, a new 4,500 sq. ft. food pantry and warehosue stood on property donated to the Food Pantry by the Woodford County Fiscal Court.  On February 1, 2015, the first food pantry clients walked through the doors of a new deb-free facility where they could wait in comfort to be served through the food pantry program. They had a facility with parking where they were able to come and pick up their Senior Commodity Food boxes, and they had a place to come where the "Under Served County" food program was no longer done outside year round. Now the program is done in the warehouse with conveyors and the food distribution is completed by noon on this day.  

We are very proud of our new facility and it is definitely nicer, more spacious, and a convenient facility for our many clients.  We now have a facility where mothers may bring their children with them while they secure food for their families, whereas, before there was not enough room in the small 700 sq. ft space for the food pantry.

Just in the last few months the number of clients needing the services of a community food pantry has grown considerably.  The working poor and new residents in the community are needing the services provided by the food pantry.  The perishable food donations received from Kroger allows us to give clients more dairy, produce, frozen foods and meat. Things they were not receiving just 18 months ago.  Since 2010, the food pantry operation has grown and is serving more clients through the Senior Food Box (CSFP) program, 2011 brought the "Under Served County" commodity program and 2015 brought the perishable food program through Kroger.  Clients leave our food pantry with at least a seven to ten day supply of food to help them survive until the next month when the Social Security checks arrive, until next month when they get their food stamps, or until their next paycheck.

Our clients are so appreciative of what we are able to do for them and they are astounded at the amount of food they receive.  All of this makes it a blessing to be a part of feeding our community.  This is truly a witness to the food in-secure families of our county.  All of the volunteers work here because this is where they want to be.  This is a very rewarding volunteer experience.