Emergency food pantry serves community for decade - Cedar Valley Daily Times

Emergency food pantry serves community for decade - Cedar Valley Daily Times

SHELLSBURG – For the past ten years, the Share Emergency Food Pantry in Shellsburg, Iowa has worked to feed the hungry and assist in other ways throughout the community, in the words of pantry manager Judy Mumm.

Located in the upper floor of City Hall, the pantry is open to clients the second Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m., and the fourth Thursday from 4-5:30 p.m., in the months January thru October. In November and December pantry hours change in order to accommodate the distribution of holiday boxes.   

This is the only food pantry in the town of Shellsburg. Financial supporters of the pantry include the Church of Grace, First Presbyterian Church, Oak Grove Church, Parkers Grove Baptist Church, Zion Lutheran Church, private individuals, and various local clubs. The Shellsburg Lions Club provides holiday boxes. Protein items are purchased from Roy’s Grocery.

Mumm describes the need for the pantry as fairly big. There are no income eligibility guidelines to qualify for the pantry’s services. “Patrons just show up and fill out an application,” says Mumm and she adds there is no limit on the number of times a family or individual may visit.

Approximately 120 people of all ages are served by the pantry every month. Mumm says the pantry is “serving more families [today] than when we first started.”

Milk, meat, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, cereal, oatmeal, and other assorted items are distributed by the pantry. Counseling is also provided if necessary in order to help clients obtain other community services.

Mumm says the pantry is in need of canned food and canned meat, as well as peanut butter, and financial donations are always welcome.

“These families [have] become our friends,” says Mumm in reference to the people helped by the pantry, “they love to just sit and visit with us [during pantry hours].”

If you would like to donate to the Share Emergency Food Pantry, donations may be dropped off at City Hall located at 108 Main Street SE in Shellsburg.