Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 22, 1994 TAG: 9405240040
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By VIRGINIA B. JORDAN SPECIAL TO ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The family's efforts to save money on food this winter had backfired when they spent their $150 tax refund on meat and put it in a freezer. "It would have lasted most of the year. And when the electricity went out, in the storm, we lost all of it," said the woman who asked not to be identified as she waited to pick up food for her family.
Behind her, the next woman told how her husband has had two operations, on his back and knee. He applied for federal disability, but has not yet received any checks. The couple, who also asked that their names not be used, have three boys, ages 6, 9 and 17. "One thing I can tell you," the mother said, "we have food stamps, but they do not last!"
During the coldest part of the winter, the young couple next in line had been unable to pay for more heating oil. "We managed, finally, to buy a space heater," said the young woman, who has a part-time telephone job. A month ago, her husband lost his job as a cook. "I have another one now," he said, smiling, "but I won't be paid for two weeks."
These families came to the Interfaith Food Pantry for help when there was nowhere else to turn.
The pantry, located in a small house on a lane behind Blacksburg Baptist Church, hands out groceries to families in need, many of them facing emergencies.
The project was started in 1987 by Stevanna Wynn, at that time director of New River Community Action. Even then, four churches were operating small food banks. It took a lot of meetings, but, in the end, Wynn came up with one large organization, which has worked well since.
Volunteers from a dozen New River Valley churches and the Jewish Community Center, all of which conduct ongoing collections of food, operate the pantry. Five other smaller churches donate food, and many business, civic and campus organizations hold food and fund drives to keep the pantry stocked.
One morning this spring, two workers, Kathy Diffell and Matilda Kosztarab, both from St. Mary's Catholic Church, were busily helping a line of waiting people.
The volunteers work in the small kitchen, filled with two refrigerators, a large freezer, shelves for bread, a table, and the adjacent pantry closet.
In the cramped quarters, only one person at a time can be served. Names are checked on a card file, and called in to the New River Community Action office at the end of the morning, where a master file is kept.
Three years ago, the pantry served about 100 people a month. By last year, that number had more than doubled to 223 a month. Those 223 carried home food for 7,761 people in their combined families. The demand has been consistently met by donations and careful purchases.
On this morning, the volunteers filled two or three big bags of groceries for each family, scanning a list posted on the pantry wall. Every person takes home two
cans of fruit, vegetables and soup. They also get powdered milk, peanut butter, beans, canned meat, cereal, spaghetti and sauce, macaroni and cheese, toilet paper, detergent, meat and orange juice from the freezer, and as much bread and rolls as wanted. These last are donated by Kroger's and picked up that morning. A 10 percent discount is given by Wade's for Pantry purchases.
This is an efficient operation, not missing a beat in nearly seven years. Every church has a contact person responsible for lining up volunteers and substitutes. About 50 volunteers staff the pantry each month. Many more volunteers operate the food and fund drives. Last year, the pantry won a Governor's Award for Volunteering Excellence.
Alice Wills, chairwoman of the operating committee, is at the pantry almost every day. She brings up supplies from the basement storage room, with husband, Wirt, helping. When stocks are low, usually in the spring, she's off to the grocery store. In season, many New River Valley residents bring the fruit of their land, such as fresh tomatoes, squash and cucumbers.
"A lot of the people coming here are working, but need help," said Wills. "There's always something here for them."
The pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon each weekday except when the Montgomery County schools are closed due to bad weather. Even then, it will open if and when workers are able to get there.
Anyone interested in donating to the interfaith Food Pantry can drop off donations at any Blacksburg church, the Jewish Community Center or at the pantry, located off the alley behind Blacksburg Baptist Church.
by CNB