By TOM WOERNER
Of The Record Staff
Leaders of the Angier Food Pantry are planning to move to a new location after town officials recently voted to accept an offer to sell the facility where the organization operated. The Angier Town Board voted last month to enter into negotiations to sell what locals know as the old rescue squad building. Back portions of the facility were previously the location of the Angier Food Pantry. The pantry currently feeds approximately 900 meals a month from the facility.
The building also was used as the distribution point for the Buddy Backpack program in the Angier area. That national program provides food for students in schools throughout the county, including in Angier. Front portions of the building, located on N.C. 55, were most recently used as offices for the Angier Parks and Recreation Department.
According to Angier Mayor Lew Weatherspoon, a deal to sell the building has not closed and officials have not released details of the sale, but board members voted to approve the sale price. There is no indication when the deal will close. The mayor also said a final plan to relocate the parks and recreation department is still in the works.
Both the food pantry and Buddy Backpack program are nongovernmental, nonprofit organizations with no association with the town.
Following news of the potential sale, the Buddy Backpack program developed a plan to use Angier Baptist Church for its operations.
The food pantry will move to another church location, Anthem Church, which is located in a former manufacturing site on N.C. 210 South, within the town limits.
The building is owned by Fuquay-Varina businessman Bob Barker.
Anthem Church Pastor Rick Gutierrez said plans are in place for his church facility to be used by the food pantry by late January, 2017. The deal to move the food pantry was led in part by the Angier Ministerial Association in conjunction with town officials, according to Mr. Weatherspoon.
Mr. Gutierrez thanked the town for helping with the food pantry.
“It has been a blessing to them, given that they haven’t had to pay rent or utilities,” Mr. Gutierrez said. “This is an extremely unique situation. The great majority of food pantries have to pay rent and utilities. The mayor, the town board and our town manager have gone above and beyond to help the food pantry secure a new location. I’m grateful for the work and the heart of these men, especially given that the food pantry is beyond the scope of their job description and responsibility.”
In addition to help from town officials, local civic organizations and churches have contributed to the effort to ensure a smooth transition to the new facility for the food pantry.
Mr. Gutierrez is also glad his church and its people can help.
“We are excited at Anthem that our building will be used for such good work,” Mr. Gutierrez said.
Anthem Church has been in existence in Angier several years after beginning as a church plant supported by Explore Church in Fuquay-Varina.
Daily Record Photos/Tom Woerner – The Anthem Church facility in Angier will be the home of the Angier Food Pantry in the near future. The food pantry is now located in the old parks and recreation building which the town is in the process of selling.
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