Working to keep Food Pantry shelves stocked as need increases

OTTAWA - Sandi Racer and Bev Carr were worried recently. As they looked at the shelves of the Ottawa Food Pantry they wondered if they would have to reduce items on their clients "pick lists."

A pick list is provided to each family when they come into the food pantry to select items from the food pantry. Amounts are limited based on the size of the family.

"Our supplies were getting really low," explained Racer. "Fortunately we received several donations that delayed this type of decision. For now."

Racer has been working in the Ottawa Food Pantry, located at Trinity United Methodist Church, since it started in 1983.  She has had assistance from Bev Carr for the past ten years.

The two women have seen the number of clients nearly double over the last year.

"A year ago we had an average of 35 families we served," Carr said. "Now we have an average of 65 families."

"It's not easy for families to come here," Carr said. "So many tell us they have never had to ask for help before. We tell them we understand. Some are on fixed incomes and the increased fuel and grocery costs make it hard for them to make ends meet."

Carr said sometimes the death of a spouse also means a loss of income for a person, meaning they also may need to ask for help.

Ottawa Food Pantry is housed at Trinity United Methodist Church and is supported and staffed by the Ottawa Presbyterian Church, SS.  Peter and Paul Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Glandorf and Trinity United Methodist Church.

Ottawa Food Pantry serves families in Ottawa, Glandorf, Gilboa, Pandora, Fort Jennings, Kalida, Ottoville and Miller City. There are food pantries in Columbus Grove, Leipsic, Continental and Dupont to serve families in those areas.

The Food Pantry is open to clients on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

"We used to choose and box food for each family," Racer said. "Then two years ago the board at Trinity United Methodist approved making a room permanently available for the Food Pantry. Now people have a choice pantry. They are allowed to choose the items they want."

Racer said a volunteer accompanies a client as they choose their vegetables, meats, fruits and other food and personal hygiene items.

"The volunteers like the choice pantry better also," Carr said. "It gives them the opportunity to get to know the clients and offer tips on how to cook certain foods."

Carr said while the client list continues to increase the amount of food available from the West Ohio Food Bank is decreasing. "We used to get an 8-page list of available items," she said. "Now that list has been decreased to 2.5 pages.  I think some of the producers are giving them less items."

The participating churches share the duties of providing volunteer assistance on pick-up days. Carr and Racer take in the items and place them on the shelves.

"We also have freezers where we keep the meat," Carr said. "Between the shelves built by the church and freezers it has helped a lot."

Racer also commends Kohl's Market for working with them. "They make good deals for us," she said. "That helps a lot."

Beside the West Ohio Food Bank, the Ottawa Food Pantry receives food from individual donations, school food drives, the Scouts food drive, and monetary donations.

"We use the monetary donations to purchase items such as margarine and bread," Racer said.

Now Racer and Carr are putting out a plea for more donations for the Ottawa Food Pantry.

As they restocked the shelves last week they looked at the shelves with concern.

"It may look like a lot to some people," Racer said. "But when you consider that 65 families will be taking food from these shelves to feed their families you realize how quickly they will become empty."

Racer said it is for this reason they almost had to have an emergency board meeting to reduce the allotted items on each family's list

"We hope we don't have to do that," Carr said.

It is easy to say that anything you might have in your cupboard is an acceptable item to donate at this time. Currently, cereal, canned fruit, rice products, pasta products, soup and boxed dinners are in high demand and short supply. Other things that are always needed include canned meat, jelly, toilet tissue, bar soap, peanut butter, cake mixes and personal care and feminine hygiene products.

If you have questions, please call Trinity at 419-523-6496.