An informational meeting is set for next week to discuss increasing the community’s involvement in Livingston County’s food pantry.
The food pantry at 511 Elm Street, operates out of the Green Hills Community Action Agency service center and serves as a vital resource for Livingston County families in an emergency or crisis situation. Administrators with GHCAA oversee the day-to-day operations of the food pantry as well as the USDA food commodity program. Food from the USDA food commodity program is distributed monthly and comes from the Second Harvest of Greater St. Joseph, Mo.
According to Sherrie Wohlgemuth, director of the Livingston County GHCAA, a community needs assessment and long-range planning conducted by agency staff, volunteers, board members and other key stakeholders uncovered a need to increase the overall participation of local churches, service providers and community groups in the operation of the pantry.
“The outcome (of the needs assessment) was that we needed to move the food pantry to another food partner and free up our time to do more case management with the goal of moving our customers into self sufficiency,” Wohlgemuth explained.
The informational meeting will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at Highview Baptist Church, 713 Milwaukee Ave. in Chillicothe. Lunch will be provided by GHCAA. Local churches, civic groups and service providers are invited to the meeting and anyone else interested in the operation of the food pantry is welcome to attend. However, reservations are requested by Monday, Feb. 23.
“We’re trying to bring community members together and explain the day-to-day working of the pantry, the need and what we’ve got here,” Wohlgemuth said. She added, “We would like to see if any other organization would like to step up and take this project on if they feel it is within their mission. We’ve already had some initial interest,” she said.
The food pantry and the USDA food commodity program help feed people of all ages within the community. Non perishable food items from the food pantry are distributed on a crisis or emergency basis. There are income guidelines governing who receives food items from the USDA food commodity program, Wohlgemuth said.
From January through October, the food pantry fed 123 families comprised of 352 individuals. During the same time, the USDA food commodity program fed 621 households, comprised of 1,232 individuals. From 2007-08, the food pantry served 1,555 families.
Those wanting to attend the meeting or wanting more information, should call GHCAA’s Livingston County Service Center at 660-646-3379.
Chillicothe, Mo. —
