HANCOCK COUNTY — Since their start 30 years ago in a church closet, the Hancock County Food Pantry has made significant upgrades to their space.
Hancock County Food Pantry board member Liz Rusche spoke before the Hancock County Budget Committee on Wednesday and said that they are now currently renovating a recent purchase of a new location.
After noticing their numbers escalating over the last four or five years, Rusche said that the board of directors had a meeting to discuss needing a new property.
When the food pantry moved into their current location in 2009, Rusche said that they were serving about 400 families. This past August they served 872 households, with 72 new families registered in the month.
“The need is here, but we’re glad and thrilled to be able to provide that service,” Rusche said.
In July, they took possession and closed on what used to be the former K&R Tool Shed property located at 2040 W. Main St., just east of North Meridian Road.
After the purchase of the building, president of the board Howard Green said to the commissioners that is when they started raising funds to remodel.
“We didn’t want to raise any money until we had actually purchased the building,” Green said.
So far, they are on time for a projected finish date of being moved in by Thanksgiving. As the money comes in, Green said that they budget it as needed and make choices as they go.
As of Sept. 1, they have raised a little more than $302,000 of the amount they need for the renovations. Green said they still will need roughly $200,000 to $250,000. While they have been doing the fundraisers, Green said that it does take a lot of time.
Ultimately, Green asked the budget committee if they would support some additional funds to go toward items and the renovation.
“We’ve never asked for a specific mount when we’ve gone to other different other organizations,” Green said. “But I think it’s necessary that I ask at least if you could provide $50,000 to $75,000, that would greatly help us out and finish off this pantry that serves the county here.”
One item they are looking to add is a new refrigeration unit. Green said that they are $25,000 short on the unit due to inflation over the past few years.
The City of Greenfield gave $75,000 for their refrigeration unit. However, those funds were allocated a little more than two years ago. Green said that prices have increased since then.
The new refrigeration unit will create much more needed storage space, holding seven to eight palettes of refrigeration items and seven to eight palettes on the freezer side. Cost is $104,000 with another $3,000 to install and hook it up.
As they move facilities, they are also looking to bring over an older freezer that is about 20 years old that will mainly serve as a backup.
Another item they would add to the building as it is being renovated is air conditioning. Green said that would be an addition for the safety of the volunteers and the safety of the food that is given out to the clients.
Budget committee member Keely Butrum said that when it comes to the food pantry, they are tremendous fundraisers.
“You’re not coming here asking before you’ve worked your butts off to try to raise a dollar… and I see the community always responds with your efforts to raise funds,” Butrum said.
After some more discussion, Butrum made a motion to allocate $100,000 from the food and beverage fund toward the food pantry. It passed unanimously.
“This is just an amazing blessing. When you’re raising funds on a large capital campaign like this to get a large gift, it changes the whole direction,” Rusche said.
On Sept. 9, Greenfield Jeep Jam will have vendors and a kid zone from 4-9 p.m. at 23 N. East St., where half the proceeds will go to the food pantry and the other half will go to Talitha Koums Women’s Recovery House.
For more information about the Hancock County Food Pantry or to donate, visit hancockcountyfoodpantry.com.
