Soon 23 volunteers who work at Humboldt’s food pantry won’t be bumping into each other. THE PANTRY’S assistance isn’t limited to Humboldt.
Allen County commissioners Tuesday agreed to a request from Humboldt’s Ministerial Alliance to move the pantry from cramped quarters in the 900 block of Bridge Street two blocks west to the town’s Senior Center, 718 Bridge St.
Half of one of two rooms at the center will be partitioned off for the pantry, complete with a counter where food will be distributed.
Commissioners asked County Counselor Alan Weber to draft an agreement, including a $50-a-month payment for utilities. The pantry has several freezers and a refrigerator, and currently pays about $300 a month for rent and utilities. Money saved will be used to purchase food, said David Meier, pastor at Humboldt’s St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
The pantry is open twice a week, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Mondays to distribute food donated by Chanute’s Walmart and 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays to hand out locally donated and purchased food, with each family getting about $90 worth of food.
Through July of this year the pantry served an average of 54 families a month. Consumers may visit the pantry once a month and must have proof of residence in USD 258.
Meier said due to lack of space in the current pantry, storage of food and non-food items was limited — “a nice problem” and a very visible one when a large donation comes from the community.
Now and then, he pointed out, the Kansas Food Bank has good bargains, but “we’re limited on how much we can purchase.” For example, double-pack boxes of cereal were available at a bargain price, but “we could buy just 24,” he said, because of a lack of available storage.
More storage could allow more patrons served, he said.
“We also participate in the Feed America program that the Kansas Food Bank coordinates with the Chanute Walmart,” Meier said.
Humboldt volunteers pick up food at the Walmart on Fridays, with a van purchased last year. On the first Friday of the month food is taken to Moran, the second Friday it goes to Hope Unlimited (Iola), the third Friday to LaHarpe, the fourth Friday to Savonburg/Elsmore and on the fifth Friday and all Mondays Walmart food is distributed in Humboldt.
In July 1,149 pounds of food were picked up at the Walmart store — food removed from shelves for a variety of reasons but perfectly good for consumption — and distributed to 98 families, totaling 268 people.
Commissioner Tom Williams was impressed. “This is local, grassroots, faith-based help at its best,” he said.
Food for the pantry comes from donations made through Humboldt churches, including financial contributions. Meier said an anonymous donor recently pledged $5,000 to be given when matched by other local donations.
“That’s $10,000 we could have to purchase food,” he crowed.
Humboldt’s food pantry will move
