A MONTH AT GOD’S GRACE FOOD PANTRY

Do you know about all that it takes to run a successful, well organized Food Pantry?
Jeanette Goryl took the time to prepare “A MONTH AT GOD’S GRACE FOOD PANTRY” that gives us all a description of what it takes to meet the need that keeps growing. To say the least, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to the ministry.
Click here to view photos the kids from KALEIDOSCOPE MUSIC CAMP prepared and were donated to God's Grace Food Pantry.

EVERY MONDAY (except the first one):
Morning: Pick up bread donation at Food Lion
1-3 pm: Set up for Tuesday, which includes:

  • Unload vehicles
  • Move donations from the Wellness Center
  • Repack food
  • Stock shelves
  • Check all plastic bags for holes and stack them in piles
  • Last minute shopping

EVERY TUESDAY (except the first one):

1:30 – 2:30 pm: Last minute setup to include:

  • Gather and organize food from freezers and refrigerators

    • For those that have not been to the Food Pantry, it is laid out in a few rooms and is very well organized by the volunteers. The clients are usually standing outside when the doors open at 2:30 p.m. They are given a list of choices of which they are to choose the number of items that are available on that day. Great care is given to try to give the clients at least one meat or protein item each week; especially if it is the last Tuesday of the month (since the pantry is not open the first Tuesday of the month).

    2:30 – 5:00 pm: PANTRY IS OPEN.

    • The “desk ladies” check in clients
    • The “runners” pick up orders to get them filled
    • “Packers” in the stock rooms fill orders
    • Boxes are broken down for recycling
    • Stock is replenished

    EVERY WEDNESDAY

    9:00 am: Second Harvest truck comes to Stevens Street Baptist Church for shopping.

    FIRST WEDNESDAY
    Pick up order during Kroger Senior Day.

    FIRST FRIDAY

    9:30 – Noon:

    • Pick up Second Harvest order, load on pickup trucks
    • Transport to church, unload and store

    FOURTH THURSDAY

    11:30 a.m. Feed America First comes to Salem UMC. We help distribute food to the other agencies and then we bring our share to our church to unload and store.

    THROUGHOUT THE MONTH:

    • Check grocery ads in newspapers
    • Shop
    • Unload vehicles
    • Make Store purchases
    • Make lists
    • Remember newsletter and printing deadlines
    • Place orders
    • Conduct inventory
    • Organize

    Obviously, this is a labor intense program and could not continue without the dedication of many volunteers. A typical Monday might see 8-10 people bustling around. Tuesday takes about 20 people to run efficiently. Another group of
    10-15 help with the Second Harvest delivery. Some can be counted on to pick up at stores. Some have a regular time to help and others are there every time the doors are open. Every one of these volunteers is vital to the smooth running of the pantry and each one is appreciated.

    God’s Grace Food Pantry could not exist without them.

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