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| Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick (From left) Pastor Ken Martin, Madison County Food Pantry liaison Joretta Hunter, and United Methodist Women’s President Frances Young are among the volunteers who man the new food pantry at South Solon United Methodist Church. |
A more convenient option now exists for people in need of food who live in South Solon and Sedalia.
South Solon United Methodist Church, 12780 N. High St., is a new satellite location for the Madison County Food Pantry. Hours are 6 to 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month and 9 to 11 a.m. the third Saturday.
“We first came up with the idea when gas was $4.12 a gallon,” said Ken Martin, pastor for the South Solon and Newport United Methodist churches. “It saves a trip to London.”
The Madison County Food Pantry, located at 137 Maple St. in London, collects and packs the food that stocks the South Solon pantry’s shelves. Everything that the London site offers, the South Solon site has, too—dry goods and frozen goods, plus some extras like baby food and toiletries.
Joretta Hunter, a volunteer at the London site for the last two years and a member of the South Solon church, serves as the liaison between the two pantries.
“The Madison County Food Pantry had 20 clients in this area when we started the satellite…We have added three new ones,” said Hunter.
In addition to opening the church’s doors twice a month for pantry clients, South Solon volunteers are available to deliver food to residents who cannot get to the church due to injury or illness.
New pantry clients are asked to bring with them proof of their address. A driver’s license, utility bill or phone bill showing a current address will do. Clients can get food from the pantry once a month.
“We wish that more people would take advantage of it,” said Martin.
Anyone can volunteer to help at the pantry, whether or not they are a member of the church.
“They can just give us a call, and we’ll set up a time that’s convenient to them,” Hunter said.
Also, the pantry accepts food donations. Pasta and rice are especially needed at this time.
For more information, to donate food, or to volunteer at the South Solon food pantry, call Pastor Ken Martin at 740-852-2077 or the Madison County Food Pantry at 740-852-5822.
