Pop-up pantries fighting food insecurity in Wayne County
Volunteers prepare the market-style pop-up food pantry in the parking lot of the Wayne County Health Department. A market-style food pantry provides a more efficient approach to food distribution, allowing individuals to select the items they need — a model that reduces food waste, accommodates dietary restrictions and empowers participants to make choices that reflect their household’s preferences.
A monthly pop-up food pantry, sponsored by the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank in partnership with the Wayne County Health Department, is proving to be a vital resource for families.
Launched in July 2024, the market-style food program is held every second Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Wayne County Health Department parking lot, 244 W. South St., and provides fresh, shelf-stable groceries directly to Wayne County residents.
According to Shawnte Ellsworth, an accounting specialist with the Wayne County Health Department, the market-style pantry reduces waste by allowing participants to choose the food items they want.
“With the drive-up style, we provided prepacked bags of food, and there were no options,” Ellsworth said. “The market style allows people to walk through and pick the items that meet their dietary needs.”
The monthly pantry eliminates transportation barriers and delivers essential groceries directly to families. Ellsworth credits the event’s success to the staff and its many volunteers.
“We hope to serve about 200 people today. I have seen the program’s numbers grow, and we always have plenty of volunteers who keep the pantry moving smoothly,” she said. “We do whatever is needed. I have worked traffic before; I really enjoy being involved with the effort.”
The pantry also provides residents with the opportunity to connect with broader health and social services such as WIC or Medicaid. Residents are encouraged to inquire about these additional services offered by the Wayne County Health Department.
For the pantry schedule and additional information, visit www.wayne-health.org.
Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.