NAMPA — Nampa residents and city officials gathered Wednesday afternoon at the Good News Community Church in north Nampa to break ground on a permanent food pantry next to the church.
Church members have started fundraising to build the food pantry, which has been in the works for several months. The intent is to serve the need for food outlets in north Nampa, with 33 percent of residents living more than a half-mile away from the nearest grocery store, according to an Invest Health study.
Sam Mangeac, brother of Pastor Daniel Mangeac, said they need at least $130,000 to build the pantry and still have a long way to go. The groundbreaking was mostly ceremonial, he said. Once they have the funding they need, he estimates it will take about three months before the food pantry can officially open.
Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling and some City Council members attended the ceremony and spoke about the importance of a food pantry in the north Nampa area. Councilman Rick Hogaboam said the food pantry will serve the purpose of helping the most vulnerable members of the community.
“No child should starve in school,” Hogaboam said.
