So you want to start a food pantry

2009-04-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

Project E. A. T. (Everyone Ate Today) endeavors to be sure everyone eats every day. That is accomplished the following ways:

Food Pantries, Buddy Bags, Cook-Outs, and Neighborhood Cafés .

Presently, KUO operates 4 food pantries scattered throughout the city. At the beginning of January, most of the food pantries in the city agreed to like with KUO’s database helping to ensure we have enough food available to help everyone. Anyone is welcome to one of the networked pantries once a month. If the need is greater than an one time visit, guests are encouraged to call Information 211 to get a referral to one of the referral only food pantries. Being network together ensures that there are many pantries within walking distance and everyone will be able to have food in their home each day. The four pantries that KUO operates are Alto United Methodist Church for Pine Valley Residents, Trinity United Methodist, Zion Church, and Riley Modern. With expectation of Alto all pantries are open on Monday and Wednesday from 12-3. Alto is referral only from Pine Valley residents.

We have put together 1500 Food Orders in 2008——in 2007 140.

Questions to ask before starting a new Food Pantry:

When starting a new food pantry, forethought and planning are extremely important for a sustainable project. Such planning should include, but not be limited to, the following considerations:

Personnel:

What people are interested and committed to the project for the long term?

Who is qualified and willing to serve as the authorized decision-maker and legal signee of documents?

Who will keep the records accurately and what records will be required?

Be realistic. How many people are needed to maintain program continuity?

Food Access and Distribution:

Is there a need for a food pantry in your local community? Explore services that already exist to determine the level of assistance being provided by other organizations and if there is a gap in services that your group might fill.

What distribution agency is available from which food can be purchased? Consider the distance to an agency and whether mileage is prohibitive in starting and maintaining such a ministry over time.

What are the requirements imposed by such a food distribution agency?

What will be the cost of food per purchasing period?

How will ongoing operational costs be covered?

How will food be obtained and delivered to the church facility for storage?

How will storage and preservation of food be handled?

How and when will food be dispersed to people?

In order to receive perishable and frozen foods, refrigerators and freezers must be in place. The number of such depends on the quantity of frozen or refrigerated foods purchased routinely.

Shelving for proper storage of canned and dry foods allows food items to be stored in an orderly fashion. The premise must remain free of insects and rodents.

Boxing or bagging the food for distribution requires a good working area. .

While KUO is a faith based organization distributing food to the needy cannot impose requirements of religious involvement or attendance to receive food.

The distributing group can set the day, time, and place for food to be distributed. With signs posted.

Good record keeping, accurate and up-to-date, is a must.

Kokomo Urban Outreach

1701 S. Locke St.

Kokomo, IN 46902

Outreach Office 765.457.1983

Project E.A.T. email

Kuoeat.gmail.com

Websites:

Kokomourbanoutreach.org

Jeffnewton.blogspot.com

Projecteat.blogspot.com