The Salem Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry is moving. The final distribution was made from the Salem Community Activity Center on Thursday.
Food Pantry Coordinator Carol Ann Short says the new location is the Grace United Methodist Church.
“It’s not going to be a drive-thru anymore. They’ll come through the front door and check in, and then we’ll go to the old dining hall downstairs. Down in the dining hall, we’ll have it set up with tables and chairs. We’ll have coffee there. Then we’ll be able to share community resources, find out what people need. We’ll have a prayer station, and we’ll also have a little thrift store type area that’s set up, so if people need clothes or small appliances, those will be available as well.”
Short says that unlike the past, the items will not already be boxed up for the participants.
“We’ll be able to take them into another room where they can actually shop for the foods that they want. They’ll be able to choose the foods that they and their families will eat instead of just getting whatever we put in the box for them. Even just talking to everyone today, most of them seemed really excited about being able to choose the foods, and they can point out something specific like, ‘Yeah, I get these lima beans and no one in my household’s going to eat them.’”
Short says there will be a soft opening during the rest of March with those receiving vouchers from the churches given individual times to come. Starting in April, the food pantry will be open eight to 10 a.m. and four to 6:30 p.m. every Monday for pickup. The pantry also hopes to be open the first Saturday of each month.
The Salem Community Center presented a plaque of appreciation for the work of the Salem Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry on its final day at the center. Community Center Executive Director Marci Auvil says she appreciates what the food pantry has done for Salem.
“We are so grateful for the service that the food pantry provides to our community. We wish them the absolute best in their new location. It sounds like they are able to offer more services and have more space. We’re grateful for the time they spent here and wish them the best in their new place.”
Auvil says the two rooms used by the food pantry have already been spoken for. The Salem Emergency Management Agency and United Fund will utilize one room to hold supplies to be prepared for any emergency event that will result in the community center being used as a shelter. The other room will be utilized by the quilt guild that currently uses an upstairs room to store supplies.
