Valley Mission Food Pantry helps those in need - Idaho State Journal

Valley Mission Food Pantry helps those in need - Idaho State Journal

POCATELLO — The Valley Mission Food Pantry is working hard to provide food for local families in need.

Housed at First Baptist Church, 408 N. Arthur Ave. in Pocatello, the food pantry helps between 180 and 200 families a week, said Amy Welsh, who co-directs the food pantry along with Beverly Brumfield. On average, 20 of the families who come each week are new.

“There are a lot of hungry people in our town, unfortunately,” Welsh said, but added that many other churches and organizations are also doing what they can to ensure local people are getting the assistance they need.

The Valley Mission Food Pantry is open every Thursday from 3:30 to 7 p.m.

Local stores provide approximately 8,000 pounds of food to the pantry every week — items that they are unlikely to sell, but are still good and within their expiration date, Welsh said. The Idaho Foodbank donates another 3,000 to 4,000 pounds.

And the food pantry gives it all to those in need.

“Every week we start with empty shelves,” Welsh said.

The pantry is run by volunteers. Welsh said anyone who would like to help can stop by on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help unload trucks and organize the food that comes in.

She says the food pantry is set up like a grocery store, and those families that come in are able to choose from whatever items were donated that week. That can include meats, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, canned goods and even baked goods on occasion.

Welsh said they plan on providing grocery items for about 200 families each week, and they limit how much people can take to ensure there will be enough for everyone.

“We’ve never not had enough food,” she said.

Some of those who come in are fathers and mothers who are working, but they still can’t make ends meet and just need a little help, Welsh said. The pantry tries to provide that.

People can come to the pantry up to two times a month and get three to five days’ worth of groceries to help them get by, Welsh said.

The pantry also offers some case management services to those who need additional assistance, and Welsh said they can direct people to other community resources that can help. In addition, they have church volunteers who can assist people with financial planning and other needs.

Although they do take the names and addresses of people who come to the pantry for documentation purposes, Welsh said there are no wage qualifications or other requirements for those who want food. They will help anyone who is hungry.

She encourages those who are in need to come to the pantry, even though she knows it can be hard for people to ask for help.

“Nobody is going to ask any questions. There’s not (any) judgement,” she said. “Come in and get something to eat.”