December 19, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
God’s Food Pantry continues its mission to feed the hungry through the holidays and year-round.
For 15 years the pantry has provided food and other essentials to help meet the needs of the medically frail and elderly, children, veterans, the homeless, and the working poor. The pantry receives no local, state, or federal government funding but is able to operate from donations of caring individuals and businesses, among others.
Pat Zornow, God’s Food Pantry volunteer and coordinator, said between 800 and 900 families are served per month which includes about 80 home deliveries to those with special needs.
Food is distributed on the first Friday after the first Thursday and on the third Friday of every month from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon from the pantry at 430 East Broad, Smithville in a drive through pickup line. A long line of cars forms along East Broad Street near the pantry every time the twice a month event is held. Smithville Police are always on site to assist with traffic control and the sheriff’s department provides inmate work crews under guarded supervision by correctional officers to help pantry volunteers with the distribution.
The first Friday the food boxes consist basically of staples with perishables and the third Friday is the staples, perishables, and meats. Beverages are included when possible. Last Friday, December 16 was the final regular food distribution before Christmas and families got a little something extra. “They received holiday food boxes donated by Food Lion, staples from our food pantry such as additional rice, pasta, sauce, and we put in perishables including fruits and vegetables we had received or purchased not only from Food Lion but from Second Harvest, and then we added breads and meats. For families of four or more, they got a big turkey while others had chickens and other meats we had put in their boxes,” said Zornow.
The next food distribution is Friday morning, January 6.
Support for the pantry comes from a variety of sources. “As far as monetary donations, they come from all over. Even as far as Nashville, Franklin, etc,” said Zornow. “Individuals also send us checks or drop in and visit us. Many times when its pantry distribution time, volunteers will come in and help us. We also get support from businesses and organizations. Tenneco is wonderful to us. They gave us 156 turkeys they had leftover plus their pies. We got 140 pies from them and they (Tenneco) do this annually. We collect four times a week from Food Lion and we will go over and get whatever they have to donate to us and if we can’t get over there many times they will put everything in their truck and bring it to us directly. We also purchase from Wal-mart and Larry’s Discount Grocery if we need something and can’t find it. If we can get food locally we’re going to do business locally as much as we can,” said Zornow.
Aside from the regularly scheduled food pickups, emergency distributions are made 24/7 when requests come in for food.
Lodging can also be arranged for the homeless and others needing shelter as well was temporary housing for those willing to work to get back on their feet.
“We will help with the first month’s rent and utilities if they are holding a job, especially the younger ones, but they must show me their paycheck to prove they have employment because they must take ownership in this effort,” said Zornow.
Financial help is provided to the medically frail and elderly among others. “We help with their utilities, medications, and we get clothing for them, and much more as far as meeting expenses for things they need. It’s the whole person approach,” Zornow continued.
For those with children, the pantry makes sure the kids have gifts for Christmas. “These are children served by this pantry. We go from birth up to 18 years of age and we will be serving more than 200 children this year,” said Zornow.
The pantry is currently staffed by 25 active volunteers who donate their time to help. Zornow said for them and her it is a labor of love.
“We see many more people in need these days, needing food, needing help. I don’t want to see their electricity turned off and them having to live in the cold. We have to see to their needs. I don’t want to see children without coats. Right now, for Christmas a mother called me and said her child had only a real thin parka to wear. He has neuropathy and is in a wheelchair and only has one coat. I told her a coat should not be a Christmas present for him, that is a necessity, so I got him a real nice Parka from Old Navy,” said Zornow.
People come from far and near to be served by the pantry and Zornow said no one is means tested or questioned, but if anyone shows up intoxicated, using profanity or causing trouble they will be turned away.
Gods Food Pantry can be reached to meet a dire emergency need anytime at 615-597-4540. Leave a message and someone will promptly return your call. The pantry also has a post office box. Its Gods Food Pantry, Post Office Box 807, Smithville.