03/16/2023
Finally, the dust has settled! Thanks to many generous contributions from folks in this community and beyond, in addition to the leftover food and supplies, we were able to present a check to Morgan County United Ministries in the amount of $947! We hope this helps MCUM to leverage for bulk buys to help feed as many folks as possible! We know that donations to the pantry are down, and supplies are low, so if you have it in your heart to help feed folks, please consider a charitable donation to MCUM to help them use their buying power for the most good.
We asked the folks at the food pantry for an idea of services offered, and ways that the community can help. Here’s what they said:
“ COUNTY UNITED MINISTRIES
MANNA HARVEST FOOD PANTRY
Currently, we are averaging 375 households (approx.. 700 individuals) served each month. Families must be income-eligible at 200% FPIG (Federal Poverty Income Guidelines) or less and be a resident of Morgan County. Families may pick up once a month.
Families with children make up 20% of our monthly total.
Senior citizens make up 40% of our monthly total.
We get the bulk of our food from the SEO Foodbank in Logan that we use to fill our monthly boxes. We supplement that food with donated food from the community and sometimes we need to purchase items from a local grocery store to round out our boxes. We use monetary donations from the community and funds we receive from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program to purchase that food. Also, our local Kroger store donates thousands of pounds of food each year to the Pantry.
Each monthly box contains dry goods: canned vegetables and fruit, canned or dry beans, cereal, peanut butter, crackers, canned soup, pasta and sauce, etc. We also give out 1-2 meat, bread, produce, and dairy items as they are available.
We also handle distributing the Commodity Senior Food Program boxes for the SEO Foodbank. The box contains similar items as above, and income-eligible seniors may receive this box in addition to the above Food Pantry items. Applications are available at our office.
Another program is the Weekend Food Bag Program. This program is funded from the estate of the late Hazel Syphers. We receive funds each month to pack a small bag of easy to prepare breakfast, lunch, and snack items for students in need to have for the weekends when they are not receiving school meals. Applications are sent home at the beginning of the school year with the students. Due to increasing food costs, we will be limiting the number of applications accepted in the 2023-24 school year.
Community members can help the Food Pantry by making donations. Monetary donations are used to purchase food, fuel for the trucks to pick up the food, bags/boxes to pack the food in, etc. Food donations are always welcome.
Our contact info is:
Office phone: 740-962-2679
Email: [email protected]
Mailing address:
Morgan County United Ministries
PO Box 303
McConnelsville, OH 43756
Physical address:
514 N Main St.
Malta, OH 43758
“
