Food pantries strive to meet growing need

Suzy McNeilly grew up knowing it is her duty in life to help people.

Now, as she oversees the 12 food pantries in Whitman County, she sees the number of people needing food assistance increasing.

As food contributions increase, especially produce through organizations such as Second Harvest and community gardens like the Peace Lutheran Church, McNeilly also said the need is increasing.

Although the actual number of households aren’t increasing dramatically, the number of people within the households is increasing.

Food drives help stock shelves, McNeilly said, but help also comes from Walmart, Safeway and Rosauers along with several restaurants.

The Whitman County Food Pantry also received soup packets from Homestead Ministries. She’s also working with WSU students on three different projects for the food banks.

Tom’s Turkey Drive will be coming soon at Rosauers along with more holiday food drives that will stock the shelves through the holidays.

McNeilly said that last December, 3,353 people were served by the food pantries, 954 households in Colfax. The pantry was stocked at that time with 52,631 pounds of food.

McNeilly believes that increasing information about food distribution is being shared among people.

“I have a wonderful group of volunteers who want to help people,” she said.

In Colfax, there are two pantry distributions a month that are open to anyone. The pantry recently moved to the former CETC building in Colfax on Main Street. Commodities are distributed the last week of the month.

“We are not the be all and end all,” she said. “We’re here to supplement what people are able to purchase.”

McNeilly said people do have emergencies.

“If people come who need emergency boxes that can include tuna, peanut butter, a spaghetti meal, frozen meat, shelf stable milk, cereal, vegetables and toiletries, we will give a box to them,” she said. “If their household is big, we will give them two boxes.”

McNeilly said they not only serve residents, but sometimes transients as well.

“I’m not judgmental at all,” she said. “I want to educate individuals and not one time. It needs to be continual.

“I know I’ll never eliminate food insecurity, but if I could educate two people, then maybe those two people could tell two more people,” McNeilly said.

“When I was growing up, I was taught that we were supposed to help people, take care of people,” she said.

This time of year, McNeilly said the food pantries in the county need a little extra help.

“It’s always the season for giving,” she said.

The pantries are particularly looking for donations of canned soup, rahmen and macaroni and cheese.

McNeilly also said she is looking for volunteers. People who want to volunteer will fill out an application and go through a background check.

Call the Council on Aging office for more information.