The Greater Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry

  • Kyle Valentini
  • January 16, 2011
  • 589
                        
The Greater Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry was established in January of 2008 when Jack Ream of Cambridge and Mike Finley of Sugarcreek set out to solve a problem plaguing our community. That problem is hunger. Ream and Finley did not ask why people are hungry as the reasons are varied and numerous; they simply decided to do something about it. Having worked together at The Friends of the Homeless Shelter at New Philadelphia, Ream and Finley saw hunger and despair first hand. They realized hunger is a problem that touches many more than just the homeless in the region, even families with homes and jobs struggle to afford food. The Greater Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry is located in The Church of the Harvest at 420 W. Third Street at Dover. The church allows the food pantry to operate in a warehouse-type space in the rear of the building, the former Buehler’s grocery store and in return the food pantry pays the utility bills at a cost of about $600 a month. With little more than a desire to help people and enormous amounts of faith, the food pantry started out serving about 75 families. As awareness has grown and unfortunately need, the food pantry now serves between 400-500 families each week. The food pantry is able to purchase food from the Akron-Canton Food Regional Bank, a member of The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks. Purchasing food at retail cost is expensive with every pound of food costing about $1.When the food pantry purchases food from the Akron-Canton Food Regional Bank the cost is reduced to only 6.5 cents per pound. Much of the food available for purchase comes from the Ohio Food Purchase and Agricultural Clearance Program and local business partners. To be eligible to receive food from the food pantry recipients are required to fill out a form stating the number of members in the family and their ages, income levels at or below those set by The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, name and address. The food pantry is required to report these statistics to the United States Department of Agriculture. When recipients show up early, they say it is not so they can be first in line but rather so they can share in fellowship with other members of their community who are also in need. For some it takes a lot of courage to ask for and receive help. When they know they are not alone the courage comes a little easier and the gratefulness is shared by a group who has been blessed by a community who cares. Distribution of food to recipients through The Greater Dover New Philadelphia Food Pantry requires enormous effort. At least forty volunteers are needed twice a week to make it happen. Volunteers come from churches, schools and sometimes just individuals who want to give back to their communities. Many volunteers meet requirements to receive food and do so but only after everyone else has received their share. Volunteers are required to fill out an anti-discrimination form. Prior to food distribution morale is boosted by an inspirational speech by volunteer and official fork lift operator Marty Skelton. Skelton reminds everyone present that the food pantry is a ministry and the role of the volunteers goes beyond handing out food. All volunteers hold hands while Jack Ream leads them in prayer. Volunteers are assigned stations where they distribute food to recipients who push shopping carts through a well organized albeit crowded system of rows. Volunteer Bill Barkett, helped devise a more efficient system for food distribution so that heavy canned goods are placed in the shopping cart before more fragile items like produce and baked goods. Volunteers are cheerful and energetic. Handicap recipients or those collecting for multiple families are always assisted by extra volunteers who gladly push additional carts to keep the line moving. Once through the line, recipients shopping carts are numbered and taken outside where the food can be collected curb side and placed in the recipient’s cars. This alleviates congestion in the parking lot and makes for a more efficient exit. The parking lot is dark so The Salvation Army supplies a light truck to help. Nearly thirty local churches contribute to the food pantry through volunteerism and monetary donations. The United Way plays a pivotal role in sustaining the food pantry as well. Volunteers are always needed. To volunteer you simply have to show up. Due to the generosity of the community no one has ever been turned away. The Greater Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry always manages to serve those in need. The food available at the food pantry is ever changing, depending on what is available through the Akron-Canton Food Regional Bank. Volunteer and board member, Jim Rice is in charge of ordering food through an efficient on-line system. He does his best to purchase as much healthy food as possible so the food pantry can serve as many people as possible. Some of the food available at the pantry might include canned soups, vegetables, stews, juices, cottage cheese, peanut butter, rice, cous cous, apples, tomatoes, cilantro, lettuce, potatoes, bread, muffins, cookies and eggs. The food pantry is open every Thursday from 6-8 PM and every Friday from 10 AM-12 PM. If you would like to make a donation to the food pantry you can do so by check to Greater Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry, Box 95, Dover, 44622.


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