MARTINSBURG — A local Berkeley County church has been chosen as the test site for a fresh food public pantry through collaborations with the United Stated Department of Agriculture.
Kittie Bly, with 365 Church, said the pantry, which has been provided by the church for three years now, takes place on the last Saturday of the month and features food received monthly through a program with the USDA out of Gassaway.
However, following the church’s successes with the dried and frozen food pantry offerings, 365 Church was chosen as the test pantry for a new program, Just In Time, in collaboration with Feeding through America and the USDA, Bly said.
“I typically never order fresh items because they won’t last to the pantry date,” Bly said. “However, this test run will deliver a refrigerated truck on the day of this first pantry filled with 8,000 to 10,000 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and dairy products to be given out to the community. We are so excited to be able to be chosen to test this out for our community because this area really needs this.”
Bly said Berkeley County and 365 Church was chosen through census data tracked by the USDA through the DHHR, which showed the high rate at which people in the county apply for food stamps or receive help from food pantries.
“In the last year, we have been able to help 939 families with an average of five people per family, which is a huge amount of people,” Bly said. “With that kind of impact, they decided the families here in Berkeley County were the ones who needed this.”
Bly said the process would be exactly the same as other pantries the church has hosted, in which those wishing to take part will first fill out a form with volunteers inside of the church before waiting to collect the variety of foods.
While the pantry is for people of all ages, leadership with the church said seeing the impact on groups of people who do not receive as many program aides in the county is an exciting part of their work.
“That’s what I love about this program, its wonderful for the kids, but we have so many wonderful programs that benefit kids,” Pastor Misty Francis, said. “But the seniors in our area have told me they may have gotten help from the state, but it might only be $20. This is another way they can receive fresh food, not just a can of beans, that is healthy and wholesome that they can leave here without having to pay for it.”
The team at 365 Church said being chosen to test this fresh food pantry run was a “blessing that brought tears to their eyes” as they continue to finalize the details of the growing event.
Bly confirmed not only will August’s pantry have the normal dried and frozen foods, but will also include the fresh food truck, donated toys to be given out to kids who come with their families to the pantry, free health and eye screenings, healthy living recipe demonstrations and spiritual counseling to those who would like it.
“What’s been amazing from the beginning is the heart of this team on taking care of this community, the fact that we have those resources available is perfect,” Matt Francis, lead pastor, said. “For us to partake in this blessing, it’s really gospel coming alive. We are not just feeding people with physical food but spiritual food and action. It’s a network and that spreads out. To me, that is the best way to show the love of God, and we are grateful this church has been called to do this. People can come here, judgment free, be blessed with food and physical care, as well. That whole package is preordained to come to life.”
The pantry is scheduled for Aug. 24 at 365 Church, which is located at 881 Mid Atlantic Parkway.
To volunteer or learn more about the 365 Church’s monthly pantry, email office@365church.org.
