Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

Members of New Beginning Apostolic Church (200 N. Bales Ave.) are working to ensure every family and neighbor is able to receive healthy food and personal care items. 

When a partnership to provide food assistance through Harvesters- a community food network-  ended last fall, pantry organizers collected food items and donations from fellow church members to fill the shelves once more. After several months of collecting funds and food, the pantry opened on Saturday, March 7, offering pantry visitors the opportunity to select needed items available or pick up a family meal sack that provides ingredients for a couple of days worth of complete meals.

Pantry coordinator Toya Abbey stated she would like to expand offerings beyond shelf-stable items, once they can obtain a refrigerator or freezer, but that would also depend on support not just from church members but also members of the community and other organizations.

“Eventually, we’d like to have support from other providers that are willing to partner with us,” Abbey said. “We are currently reaching out to establish these types of relationships.  However, at the present time, we are relying on our church family and the community to help support our fellow neighbors.”

There are no income guidelines to receive assistance and while visitors are asked to fill out an intake form, information gathered is solely used to assess the needs of the individual and the community as a whole.

“We do require that our clients complete a basic intake form.  The form asks their name and the names and ages of anyone in their household.  They have to provide their address, but we do not ask for any financial information,” said Abbey.

Donations of food items or monetary assistance can be dropped off during pantry hours. Suggested donations include: canned, boxed or bagged non-perishable food items- cereal, pasta, rice, beans, soups, instant potatoes, canned fruits and vegetables, juice, water, non-dairy milk, peanut butter, protein bars, crackers, canned meat (tuna, chicken, ham), baby food, formula, diapers and toiletries (soap, shampoo, deodorant, feminine hygiene products).

On Saturday, March 28, the pantry will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Beginning in April, pantry hours will be 10 to 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays (April 11 and 25). 

Church members are hosting a fund-raiser for the food pantry, offering $15 plates of fried catfish with potato salad, coleslaw, green beans and dessert or gumbo, with or without shrimp. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until supplies last on Sunday, March 29.

For questions about pantry assistance and donations, email NBApantry@gmail.com or visit the church website at http://nbakc.org