Good News: June 21, 2010

Ground broken for food pantry
More than 125 people turned out to mark the start of construction for a new countywide pantry this fall that will offer a one-stop shopping complex.

by Dean Cousino

Shopping for food with dignity for the less fortunate. That's what Arnold Metdepenningen and Beth Oley like about a new countywide food pantry that will be under construction soon at the Monroe County Opportunity Program office on S. Telegraph Rd.

"I love it," Mr. Metdepenningen said about the "client choice" concept behind the planned new The Lord's Harvest Pantry that broke ground Friday afternoon at the MCOP office. "No more standing in line. Here you can shop and pick stuff that you like to eat."

The new pantry, scheduled to open this fall, will allow clients to use a shopping cart and select food they need for themselves or their families. Former head of the Monroe County Food Bank, Mr. Metdepenningen said the pantry will cut down on waste and improve access for the less fortunate in the county.

Ms. Oley also was thrilled with the one-stop shopping and needs assessment concept modeled after the Fish and Loaves Pantry in Taylor run by Gleaners Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.

"It's a wonderful idea," the member of the Monroe Vicariate Peace and Justice Committee said after the ceremony. "There are so many people in need, so many people out of work. This gives people more dignity to choose what they want."

They were among more than 125 people who attended the groundbreaking marking the start of a 4,000-square-foot addition to the south end of the office that will be built this summer. The MCOP Board of Directors will choose a contractor from among five bids at its next meeting Wednesday, said Stephanie Kasprzak, executive director of the agency who proposed the idea of a centrally located pantry last year along with Gleaners. Work should begin around July 1,

The estimated $950,000 addition will transform the office into an L-shaped building that will extend south and wipe out some of the agency's parking. However, plans are to add more parking in the front of the office for an additional 20 cars, Ms. Kasprzak said.

The pantry will be divided into several rooms, the largest of which will resemble a grocery store with both a cooler and freezer with glass doors. There will be a reception area where clients can register and receive a grocery cart and then consult with a volunteer in one of four interview rooms. Here, they can tell the agency what other services they might need, such as help with utilities or social services. There is also a warehouse area for storage that will house twice-a-week deliveries from Gleaners, the main donor of food provisions to the pantry.

Gleaners serves about 75,000 people a day in five counties, with the Taylor pantry providing about 100,000 pounds of frozen meats, canned fruits and vegetables and other non-perishable food each week, said John Dziurgot, vice president of operations for the organization. In 2009, Gleaners provided 800,000 pounds of food to Monroe County, with that number expected to climb to the million mark in the first year of operation for the Lord's Harvest Pantry, Mr. Dziurgot said.

"There are more families in need and a lot are the working poor," he said. "There is at least one adult working to make ends meet."

DeWayne Wells, president of Gleaners, said the pantry is volunteer driven and relies on donations from the community, food processors, farmers, businesses and the national Feeding America. He said Gleaners' 10-year partnership and collaboration with MCOP has been huge in addressing hunger.

"It's very holistic in its approach and to engage the community," Mr. Wells said. "If we had to purchase all the food, it would require more fund raising."

MCOP, which marked its 45th anniversary on June 14, has been a key community action agency and resource for the disenfranchised. Ms. Kasprzak said an advisory council to the board worked for a year to plan the pantry and even visited the Taylor pantry to see how it works.

Monroe Township Supervisor Al Barron noted it was 10 years ago that MCOP built its headquarters in the township. He said God gave humans two hands — one to help themselves and one to help others. It was ironic the community was celebrating a building "that no one really wants," but with the intent of making it a primary center for helping to feed the area's hungry, he said.

"The Lord has given us an opportunity to help others" with the building, Mr. Barron said. "It's certainly a testament to how a community can work together to help people we don't know."

The pantry will be networked with 15 other food pantries in the county run by MCOP and area churches that serve from 1,500 to 1,600 individuals. Up to 75 percent of food for the needy is distributed through MCOP.

Jeff Weaver, president of God Works! Inc. Family Soup Kitchens, is in charge of lining up volunteers to run the pantry. He said about 40 area churches have signed up so far to provide volunteers for half-day shifts. Anyone wanting to volunteer can call him at (419) 279-8000.

"I'm committed to making this work," Mr. Weaver said. "My father grew up on the east side of Monroe and went to bed hungry ... We want to eliminate that in our community."