Faith, volunteers offer hope with local food pantry

Volunteers at Nighbert Memorial United Methodist Church prepare and distribute thousands of pounds of food each week, helping fight food insecurity in Logan County. The church's long-running pantry, community meals, and monthly food distributions provide essential support to local families in need through the efforts of dedicated volunteers and community partnerships.

Addyson Porter | WVOWRadio.com

LOGAN   In Logan, around 17% of adults and 20% of children are facing food insecurity

today, according to Feeding America.

A local church’s food pantry has worked to ease this burden in Logan County for

nearly two decades.

Nighbert Memorial United Methodist Church operates an expansive food pantry

out of its church kitchen, and dozens of volunteers have stepped in to help.

Beginning in 2012, Donald McCloud has worked alongside various others to

maintain this vital community resource.

“Nobody in Logan should be hungry. That’s the real thought behind all of this,”

McCloud said.

This local pantry distributes anywhere between five and seven thousand pounds

of food every week through their outreach events.

Volunteers at Nighbert Memorial United Methodist Church prepare food for the church's weekly pantry and community meal program, which distributes 5,000 to 7,000 pounds of food each week to help combat food insecurity in Logan County.

Faith, volunteers offer hope with local food pantry

Every Wednesday evening, a community dinner is held in the church kitchen

beginning at 4:30 where everyone is welcome to enjoy a homemade meal, often

prepared by Janice Stone.

Stone has been in the food industry since the 1980s, owning and operating

several local restaurants.

“I get pleasure out of being able to help those who are less fortunate,” said

Stone. “I’ve been blessed for 79 years, and it’s only right that I do what I can to bless

others.”

For Janice, as well as all other volunteers, it isn’t about recognition: it’s about

blessing neighbors.

“All of the people I meet are gracious; they’re so grateful to be fed. When hungry

people come by, it’s the least I can do to feed them,” Stone said. “God has given me so

much. I need to help everyone else. I’m retired, and I spend my time just sharing the

blessings.”

On the third Monday of every month, the church hosts a drive-thru food

distribution downtown where cars line up around the church to receive grocery bags

filled with snacks, produce, and reliable meals for their households.

Nighbert Memorial United Methodist Church volunteers sort and package donated food for distribution through the church's pantry, which has served Logan County families for nearly two decades.

There is a sign on the door of the church kitchen that lists food locations for every

day of the week.

Although this food pantry is housed within the church, there are no religious

obligations for its benefits.

Emergency boxes are always available at the pantry as well.

“We never know when we might find ourselves without a meal or the means to

make ends meet,” said McCloud. “It’s only right that we do what we can to help those

who really aren’t all that far from ourselves. It’s what Jesus would do.”

Community members from all walks of life can be seen gathering and doing their

part to assemble food boxes and hot meals for those in need.

“It’s a wonderful program that helps so, so many,” Donna Thibault, a regular

volunteer at the food pantry, said. “I’ve been abundantly blessed, and this lets me bless

others in the same way.”

Food insecurity, when someone is unsure of where their next meal may come

from, is a major problem in Logan County.

Community volunteers work together to prepare food for distribution at Nighbert Memorial United Methodist Church, where weekly pantry services and community meals provide support to residents facing food insecurity.

Around 25% of the county is below the federal poverty line of $15,960 annually,

and a greater portion of community members are food insecure.

To relieve this burden, Nighbert Memorial United Methodist Church has partnered

with Feeding America, a federally funded organization that makes donations to its

various branches throughout the country.

One of the biggest donors to this cause is Kroger, and they’ve been partnered

with this pantry for nearly a decade.

McCloud said, “They give us about a thousand pounds weekly, but some weeks

it’s a lot more.”

Kroger donates all perishable foods from produce to bakery items, and more to

support the program.

Church membership is declining, however, which threatens the home of this

expansive pantry.

Pastor Terry Stone said, “Membership is down. Our goal right now is to see how

we can modify our daily operations to keep the church and the pantry running.”

Pastor Stone stated that, if it became entirely impossible to keep the pantry

within the church, there are several other local pantries that it could combine with to

continue the mission of feeding Logan.

While there have been discussions with various organizations, regarding

a new home for the pantry upon the closure of the church, there are no definite plans in place

yet.

To get involved, visit Nighbert Memorial United Methodist Church downtown on

Wednesday at 2 pm, or on the third Monday of every month before 10 am.

PHOTO | Addyson Porter