Harrison County Food Pantry seeks donations as holidays near
When people were having trouble making ends meet, Missouri Valley and Harrison County stepped up. Back in 1979, a group of ministers from Missouri Valley sought to meet food insecurity needs for their community.
The Harrison County Food Pantry was formed in 1980, and shelves were filled by donations of food and monies.
Fast forward 46 years, the food pantry has expanded to serve all of the towns in Harrison
County. Today we serve up to 11 families every Tuesday and Friday, from 9-12 noon, giving them provisions for 2 weeks. As years have gone by, the pantry has outgrown its current location four times, but because of increased donations, leading to the ability to offer clients more food items to help with their emergency.
All of this history leads up to the need the pantry is seeing and that they are doing their best to meet that need.
Harrison County Food Pantry Committee Member Melba Struble stated, “I am a firm believer that there is a direct correlation between the need that God shows us and the food that we are able to give out. We have been able to continue providing food no matter what size the family is. That’s a big responsibility and a blessing.”
The last few months our numbers have consistently increased. The manager and board are making every effort to meet the needs of those who come in need with food emergencies or more long term needs. We are very aware that folks in need of food , can include those with long term needs as well as folks that are finding themselves in emergency situations.
The goal is to raise the spirits as well as offer what they need by the time they leave the pantry. In the last 30 years we have been able to offer Easter and Christmas food baskets to clients who have received food from the pantry in the last year. We anticipate being able to continue this service.
The ministers who started the pantry, 46 years ago, have laid a path of service to the people in Harrison County, that the board takes very seriously. We pledge that we will continue to be good stewards over donations entrusted to us and seek out places willing to share their bounty.
