On the heels of becoming a 501(c)(3), the Louisville Community Food Pantry received 72,000 cans of food from Crider. The company is located in Stillmore, said pantry director, Blanche Greene. The food arrived Thursday, July 11.
Greene said initially the pantry worked under the 501(c)(3) certification of the United Methodist Church in Louisville. Although the pantry has its own certification now, Greene said the pantry maintains a relationship with the church.
It has taken the pantry more than a year to gain this status as Greene said the process started in April of last year; and, the status became effective May 21.
“It’s already been established 20 years; and, I had to start making some changes,” Greene said. “That was one of them.”
Being a nonprofit, the pantry was already eligible for a 501(c)(3) status, which means the IRS recognizes the agency as tax exempt. Greene said the group had been eligible because it’s a nonprofit.
“John Murphy, a Louisville attorney, volunteered his legal services; and, he took care of everything,” Greene said. “We were using the Methodist church’s all this time. We changed the name by adding community. The current name is Louisville Community Food Pantry, Inc. It was always for the community: and, so it became appropriate to include community in the name.”
There is also a new slate of board members, another necessary element Greene said, adding there had been a board; but, that was a long time ago.
There are eight board members, including Pres. Martha Scott, Vice-Pres. Rev. Bill Cain, Treasurer Billy Valduga and Secretary Amy Newberry Jones, Greene is the pantry’s director.
“Today when I went to the grocery store, I gave the 501(c)(3) to several local stores. I try to keep as much money local as possible. And by saving money from not paying taxes, we can purchase more food,” she said. “When people know you’re a 501(c)(3), people. businesses and individuals, will make donations; and, those are tax deductible.”
“Our 20th anniversary just passed in March; and, we’ve been in that same building. My goal is to find people and let people know we’re there. I’m not interested in the people who know we’re there; I’m interested in the people who don’t know we’re there. We’ve been meeting more people; and, I’m happy about that.
“We just received a large donation from Crider in Stillmore. They gave us 72,000 cans, which is 18 pallets, they had for us. Louisville Administrator Ricky Sapp was instrumental to making sure that got down to us,” Greene said.
It was late when the boxes arrived, so she waited until the next day to open them.
To her surprise, there were 5-ounce cans, some smaller cans and some larger. There were 3-pound cans. The average size was 16 ounces. Not all of the cans had chunked chicken. There was roast beef, pulled pork and chicken and dumplings.
“When Ricky arranged it, the trustees brought it in for me. The next day, I started opening the boxes. And I sent him a picture. I just wanted to let him know my gratefulness for this,” Greene said.
The food pantry is open on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. and is located at 718 Nelms Street, Louisville,
“If there is an emergency, call me,” Greene said and added when someone has an emergency she will service them that day.
“We always accommodate,” she said.
Greene can be reached by calling 973-951-7827.
