Volunteers get the Lincoln Food Pantry ready to open June 6.
“I had thought for a year or so that we really needed a food pantry to help people who were out of work or needed assistance,” said Marie Moore, president of the Lincoln Food Pantry. “There is nothing like this in Lincoln.”
Moore said she spoke with Jean Burk, who wanted to help.
“Jean spoke with Mayor Lew Watson and got us space in the old Lincoln High School,” she said.
Moore said Burk is vice president of the Lincoln Food Pantry, Sharon Burton is secretary and treasurer, and the board consists of 12 members.
“We set up our non-profit (501c3) papers and incorporation papers and sent all the paperwork off,” she said. “A local company donated the funds to help pay for the paperwork.”
Moore said for the past two months, volunteers have been renovating and cleaning two rooms in the old Lincoln High School.
“We got help from Teen Challenge, and couldn’t have done it without them,” she said. “We took up the carpet and painted and moved cabinets from another room to put in there to store food.”
Moore said with help from the community, the volunteers have been stocking the Lincoln Food Pantry for the past couple weeks.
“We are a faith-based organization, and are all volunteers with no paid employees,” she said.
Moore said starting June 6, the Lincoln Food Pantry is open from 9 a.m.-noon every Monday.
“We will be open once a week, for now,” she said. “If we have enough food and volunteers, and if the demand is there, we may expand the days we are open.”
Moore said the Lincoln Food Pantry may also expand in the future to offer clothing in the second room.
“Drew Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School both donated food items, and we are very thankful for the donations,” she said. “And we have had individual donations too.”
Moore said she hopes local participation will continue and increase.
“We need community involvement for this to be successful,” she said. “We need donations on a continuing basis for this to work.”
Moore said additional volunteers are also needed.
“Our goal at the Lincoln Food Pantry is to help people get on their feet and become self-sufficient,” Burton said.
Burton said individuals must live in the Lincoln area to qualify for assistance from the Lincoln Food Pantry. Individuals living in Lincoln city limits with Talladega addresses do qualify for assistance, if other requirements are met.
“Individuals need to bring a picture ID and proof of residence and fill out the application form,” she said.
Burton said individuals may receive assistance once a month for up to three months in a row.
“It sometimes takes time for people to get back on their feet,” she said. “We will also offer referrals to FIRST Family Service Center in Talladega and other agencies who offer medication assistance, utility assistance, and other help.”
Moore said the board members spoke with individuals from The Samaritan House and the Christian Love Pantry, other local food pantry organizations, and compiled a basic list of mainstay food items.
Mainstay food items include Treet (canned meat similar to Spam), spaghetti, tuna helper, Vienna sausage, canned fruit, tuna fish, tomatoes/carrots, yams, greens (turnip, mustard, etc.), green beans, potatoes, soup, beans (pinto, pork & beans, lima, etc.), beef stew, corn, spaghetti sauce, black-eyed peas, flour, corn meal and rice.
Monetary donations are also needed and should be addressed to Lincoln Food Pantry Inc., P.O. Box 756, Lincoln, AL, 35096. Donations are tax deductible.
For more information call Marie Moore at 205-763-0394 or Sharon Burton at 205-763-1357 or 205-240-0333.
Contact Elsie Hodnett at ehodnett@dailyhome.com.
