Two rooms are nearly finished in a Logansport building being turned into a new food pantry and its leader hopes for the rest of the space to be completed by this spring or summer.
The Emmaus Mission Center is preparing to move its food pantry into the property at 19 W. Richardville St. It's about a block east down Water Street from the food pantry's much smaller current location at 1203 College St. Jim and Mary Jane Hayden donated the property in 2016.
A room in the new pantry designated for food separation has been equipped with sinks, counters and cabinets and has recently been plumbed. Jason Mitchell, executive director of the Emmaus Mission Center, said that's where foods like chicken will be able to be separated and vacuum-sealed before heading to freezers for storage.
Another room designated for office space is nearly completed too. Mitchell said visitors will be able to use it if in need of extra assistance or to look up anything online.
Coming up on the project's list is installing new lighting and a drop ceiling in what will be the check-in and seating area off the building's main entrance. A wall will also go up separating the seating area from a bay door that will be used for deliveries.
Mitchell wants to hang a monitor in that area as well displaying information on resources visitors could benefit from, like how to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or details on when a local township trustee will be visiting.
Plans are also underway for a new furnace, bathroom and rolling doors within the facility.
The building currently stores plenty of food pantry offerings, including pallets of canned goods donated during the Cass County 4-H Fair last summer, freezers stocked with chickens and catfish and refrigerators keeping hundreds of gallons of milk cool.
Mitchell hopes for the project to be completed by late spring or early summer.
The Emmaus Mission Center has committed about $30,000 toward what Mitchell estimates will be about an $80,000 project. He added the center is seeking grant funding for the remaining expenses and accepting donations at logan-emmaus.org or by sending checks to the center's main office, located at 805 Spencer St., Logansport IN 46947.
About 160 tons of food was donated to the the center's food pantry last year, Mitchell said, adding it sees about 600 families a month.
"There's a lot of people that need help and this is one of the reasons why we've done this, is because we see that there's a need," he said.
Reach Mitchell Kirk at mitchell.kirk@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5130.
WANT TO HELP?
Those interested in donating to the Emmaus Mission Center’s new food pantry project can do so at logan-emmaus.org or send checks to the center’s location at 805 Spencer St., Logansport, IN 46947.
