Pack the Pantry Parking Lot Party raises money, helps fill new 24/7 pantry
Maureen Darby with members of OACAC board and Stone County elected officials.
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CHANCES of Stone County serve hot dogs at Pack the Pantry event Friday July 1.
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Maureen Darby shows off one of many boxes of donations given on Friday.
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Kadee Brosseau DeCourley
A new pantry will soon be open around-the-clock in Reeds Spring. However, before it can open, items were needed to stock it. So, on Friday, July 1 Maureen Darby hosted the Pack the Pantry Parking Lot Party at her State Farm Insurance office building in Branson West.
“It’s just a blessing for the whole community because the whole community has been involved. So many people brought stuff on Friday. It far exceeded my expectations. It blew us away,” Darby said. “We got over $2,000 in cash and probably $4,000 in donated goods.”
The People’s Pantry will be a 10X16 building located by Ignite Church in Reeds Spring. The same church also has a diaper bank and a food pantry that is open on Fridays. The pantry will be owned by Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation [OACAC]. However, getting the pantry started was made possible, in large part, by a grant from State Farm.
“Two agents per state were selected to get a $10,000 grant based on their community involvement. So, I was blessed to get one of the grants and I donated the $10,000 to OACAC,” Darby said. “[I knew that OACAC] was trying to get a bigger emergency food pantry. Right, now there is basically just a cabinet where you can put in canned goods and stuff like that.”
Other organizations have stepped in to help fund the pantry, as well.
“Lions Club did a $5,000 grant,” Darby said.
Darby said while pantries in the area often assist families with food items, this pantry will have additional items like hygiene items and paper goods like paper towels and toilet paper.
“Once it’s in place, people can go in and it’s going to have food items, but also hygiene and toothpaste and paper products like toilet paper and paper towels. So, people can go get their everyday needs met 27/4,” Darby said. “It’s going to have a refrigerator so people can get eggs and milk and butter. If your garden is overrun with cucumbers and zucchini you’ve got a place to go donate that now, too.”
The pantry will be monitored both by law enforcement and a security system.
“Unfortunately, some people will try to take advantage, but Branson West Police Department and the sheriff’s office will monitor it. We are going to have a camera system,” Darby explained.
OACAC already has some sponsors lined up to help maintain and stock the pantry.
“Businesses can adopt the pantry for the month. So, it will cost them $50 to sponsor the pantry, which will take care of the electric bill,” Darby said. “If a church or a business adopts it, then they will stock it that month.”
Darby said the hope is to expand the idea of a People’s Pantry into other areas of Stone County.
“We are going to see how this goes for a few months, then hopefully we will have more funds. Then, we are going to try to get two additional pantries, which will be smaller and not have the climate control, in the north county and the south county,” Darby said.
People wanting to donate items or money for the new People’s Pantry can bring it to Maureen Darby’s State Farm Insurance office in Branson West. Darby said the plan is to have the new pantry in place at Ignite Church and open by the end of July.
A new pantry will soon be open around-the-clock in Reeds Spring. However, before it can open, items were needed to stock it. So, on Friday, July 1 Maureen Darby hosted the Pack the Pantry Parking Lot Party at her State Farm Insurance office building in Branson West.
“It’s just a blessing for the whole community because the whole community has been involved. So many people brought stuff on Friday. It far exceeded my expectations. It blew us away,” Darby said. “We got over $2,000 in cash and probably $4,000 in donated goods.”
The People’s Pantry will be a 10X16 building located by Ignite Church in Reeds Spring. The same church also has a diaper bank and a food pantry that is open on Fridays. The pantry will be owned by Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation [OACAC]. However, getting the pantry started was made possible, in large part, by a grant from State Farm.
“Two agents per state were selected to get a $10,000 grant based on their community involvement. So, I was blessed to get one of the grants and I donated the $10,000 to OACAC,” Darby said. “[I knew that OACAC] was trying to get a bigger emergency food pantry. Right, now there is basically just a cabinet where you can put in canned goods and stuff like that.”
Other organizations have stepped in to help fund the pantry, as well.
“Lions Club did a $5,000 grant,” Darby said.
Darby said while pantries in the area often assist families with food items, this pantry will have additional items like hygiene items and paper goods like paper towels and toilet paper.
“Once it’s in place, people can go in and it’s going to have food items, but also hygiene and toothpaste and paper products like toilet paper and paper towels. So, people can go get their everyday needs met 27/4,” Darby said. “It’s going to have a refrigerator so people can get eggs and milk and butter. If your garden is overrun with cucumbers and zucchini you’ve got a place to go donate that now, too.”
The pantry will be monitored both by law enforcement and a security system.
“Unfortunately, some people will try to take advantage, but Branson West Police Department and the sheriff’s office will monitor it. We are going to have a camera system,” Darby explained.
OACAC already has some sponsors lined up to help maintain and stock the pantry.
“Businesses can adopt the pantry for the month. So, it will cost them $50 to sponsor the pantry, which will take care of the electric bill,” Darby said. “If a church or a business adopts it, then they will stock it that month.”
Darby said the hope is to expand the idea of a People’s Pantry into other areas of Stone County.
“We are going to see how this goes for a few months, then hopefully we will have more funds. Then, we are going to try to get two additional pantries, which will be smaller and not have the climate control, in the north county and the south county,” Darby said.
People wanting to donate items or money for the new People’s Pantry can bring it to Maureen Darby’s State Farm Insurance office in Branson West. Darby said the plan is to have the new pantry in place at Ignite Church and open by the end of July.