Food pantry needs delivery drivers to reach residents
Pastor Bill Fritz, left, Jack Ream and Steve Mastin listen to new ideas at the Greater Dover- New Philadelphia Food Pantry retreat.
“There is no reason for anyone in Tuscarawas County to miss a meal,” said Jack Ream of Dover, one of the founders of the Greater Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry, at the second annual retreat held at Dutch Valley Restaurant.
Since the pantry volunteers began regular food deliveries to home-bound people in need a few years ago, that statement is even more true.
One item that came up during discussions is the need for more drivers to make the home deliveries. With some of the volunteers taking vacations over the summer, more volunteers will be needed to fill in.
Home-delivery volunteers use their own vehicles to make the deliveries and need to have the ability to lift 30-35 pounds. Volunteers also should have the ability to climb stairs as some deliveries are to apartments accessible only by a stairway. The food is placed in a tote, a new tote is delivered and the one from the previous week is picked up.
Ideally, deliveries are divided between the volunteers so each would only need to make four deliveries per week. Home deliveries are usually made on Thursday mornings and afternoons and Friday mornings.
Pastor Bill Fritz, the group’s treasurer, read a letter they received in October of last year that shows the need for the food pantry.
“It’s not easy to read,” Fritz said. “Last week I came to your food pantry for the first time. I had just been told by my landlord that my rent would increase by $50. I was worried about how I could afford the increase. So I thought the food pantry would be able to help. When I got to the food pantry, I sat in my car and considered whether I should participate.”
The elderly woman also wrote she has several health issues that affect her mobility. Several volunteers came by and helped the woman get started and got her a cart so she could select the items she needed.
“All the people handing out the food were so nice to me. I told some of them it was my first visit, and they told me to be sure to come back. Back outside a gentleman took the cart and pushed it up to my car, where he put all the groceries in my car for me. When I got home, I wrote down all the items I received. Since then, every day, I look at the list and think of what a wonderful blessing all of this was. So thank you all who made this blessing possible. I have never asked for help before, and now I am worried about living on Social Security income only. God bless you all,” the letter said.
“That’s the impact we have. It’s the impact we don’t know that we have,” Fritz said.
Nathan Kreis, senior manager at the Akron Canton Food Bank, also spoke at the retreat. He encouraged everyone to continue to treat those coming to the food pantry kindly and without judgement.
“They won’t forget you being your best when they needed you the worst,” Kreis said.
The Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry is open twice each week: Thursday from 5-8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. There is no limit on the number of times a person can visit the pantry, and you do not have to be a Tuscarawas County resident. The pantry is located at 420 W. Third St. in Dover. Anyone interested in volunteering should just show up.
Pastor Will Haggis of Van Wert, a former area resident, spoke about the concept of servant leadership.
“We are here to help people and make a difference. Servant leadership is the why of the organization. This is being the hands and feet of Jesus. You lead by serving, and you serve by leading,” Haggis said.
At the event Barb Sandy, vice chair of the food pantry board, presented plaques in recognition of four organizations that help the food pantry in its mission. Recognized were Berner Trucking with Jim Knisely accepting, Wayne Door with Matt Stutzman accepting, Williams Toyota Lift of East Sparta, and the Doris and Floyd Kimble Foundation.
Jack Ream spoke about the founding of the food pantry when many smaller area food pantries merged into one.
“God wanted the hunger problem in this world solved, and we could only do it this way,” Ream said. “People don’t have enough food because they don’t have enough money.”
Ream and the other members are happy there are no barriers like having a certain income.
“We assume you’re honest if you say you need food,” said Jim Rice, who handles purchasing and logistics for the pantry.
No one knows if an event will happen that will leave them in need of assistance, and they should not hesitate to use the food pantry.
“The least of us could be any of us,” area speaker Rudy Richter said.