Local Food Pantry Gives Back

Created out of a need to service the community, The Pantry – a local food donation site at Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church – aims to give back to the area and keep families nourished.

John Boozer has been with The Pantry since its inception and considers himself “Chief Bottle Washer.”

“When The Pantry was started, we didn’t know how to set up or run a food pantry,” he said. “What we did know was that there was a need in our community for this type of assistance, and we knew that we did not want to ever have to adjudicate who would or would not receive assistance.”

The Pantry services everyone, regardless of religious affiliations, and is sustained primarily on donations from the people living in the Hamilton Mill area. In addition, The Pantry does have some corporate sponsors as well as several food drives that help bring in funds.

Food is distributed each Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon. When volunteers hand out food, they provide a box with standard contents.  Each box contains enough food for a family of four to have two meals (breakfast and dinner) for five days.

“We encourage folks to come in every other week, but if they need to come in more often, we will provide for them,” Boozer said. “We do not turn anyone away.”

He said that The Pantry has provided assistance for all types of people ranging from HMUMC members, residents from surrounding neighborhoods and people from as far away as Snellville.

Chris Rice became involved with the organization after a year-long bout with colon cancer, where she made a promise to herself to be more giving.

"The Pantry got me hooked the first day I helped out with the other volunteers just after Christmas this past year,” Rice said. “I had no idea what a need there was in our community.”

Due to her lack of appetite, her rationed food monies were given to missions.

“One of the side effects of my ‘chemo cocktail’ was just to look at any kind of food and not be able to eat,” she said. “My family would remind me that it was a sin to waste food.”

Since The Pantry has only been in operation 15 months, it wasn’t around when the recession first began. However, when the recession was in full-swing, it was there to help the community cope.

“The Pantry grew out of a need to reach out to people during the worst economic times many of us have ever faced,” Rice said.

Boozer added that the most troubled months are easy to spot.

“Our toughest time has been the summer months,” he said. “Schools have been a big source of food drives and volunteers, with the cessation of school-based food programs, the need increases and the supply of product and volunteers greatly decreases.”

The Pantry has been so successful with servicing the community, that even some local schools will refer families to the organization. It does keep some basic information on the families it services, but it is confidential.

“We do not have any requirements, but we do ask customers to provide some basic information, and we ask for a picture ID,” Boozer said.

“I know the shame that comes with hunger having grown up in Detroit and the many recessions our family faced,” Rice said. “But there is no shame here. It is pure caring and giving.”

Items The Pantry is most in need of are as follows: baby diapers, breakfast foods, peanut butter and jelly, pasta, rice, spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, syrup and canned meats.

It also aims to provide basic hygiene materials such as soap, toothpaste, detergent and feminine hygiene products. These particular items are available on an as need basis.

Boozer added that one of the things The Pantry needs most is additional business partners.

“One of our guiding principles is that everyone has the need – whether they know it or not – to serve and help one another,” he said. “We focus on reaching out to community businesses and organizations to give them an opportunity to host a can drive or provide volunteers to work on Saturday at The Pantry.”

The Pantry is located in the modular building across from the main church building on the campus of HMUMC. The church is located at 1450 Pine Road, Dacula.

For ways to help The Pantry, visit its Web site at http://hmumc.org/590119.ihtml.