A new food pantry

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SHEFFIELD — A group of western Bureau County residents want to make sure their communities and neighbors have enough to eat in these trying economic times.

About 20 people met Thursday night at the Sheffield Community Center to discuss establishing the Western Bureau County Food Pantry to serve people in the Sheffield, Buda, Mineral and Neponset areas. Their goal is to get the food pantry operating before Thanksgiving.

The Rev. Jane Courtright, pastor of the First United Church of Christ in Sheffield, is serving as the temporary acting facilitator for the group. The focus group began in early June with an initial meeting of six church members to discuss the need for a local food pantry. Courtright has since sent letters to community and church leaders in Neponset, Mineral, Buda and Sheffield to invite them and other community representatives to the planning meetings. Thursday’s meeting was the third meeting held by the group to determine the interest and next steps in starting a food pantry for that part of Bureau County.

“The need for such a service, for an area food pantry, is growing, in part as a result of layoffs, cut-backs and unemployment in our area,” Courtright said. “Also, the cost of gasoline has risen, and consequently, local residents find it difficult to drive the distance to the Princeton Food Pantry.”

The Princeton Food Pantry serves 44 people from Buda, 16 people from Mineral, 43 from Neponset and 143 from Sheffield. That number is growing, Courtright said.

At Thursday’s meeting, the group appointed a steering committee that included Ron Scott of Buda, Pete and Cynthia DeFreezer, also of Buda, and Bill McKee and Mary Lanham, both of Sheffiled, as well as Courtright. The group will also work to get representatives from the Neponset and Mineral communities for the steering committee.

The steering committee will meet twice in the next couple weeks to work on details for the operation of the Western Bureau County Food Pantry, including location, guidelines and open hours and days, for recommendation to the full group.

Group member Sue Bromme, who also serves on the Sheffield Village Board, said she would check with the board about the possible use of the Sheffield Village Hall for the food pantry. Mayor Bill Rosenow had previously expressed his support for the food pantry and using the city hall site.

Other issues discussed were insurance needs, requirements of the Bureau County Health Department, operational costs, ways to stock the food pantry, and the importance of confidentiality.

Serving as consultants for the group are Judy Fiste, director of the Princeton Food Pantry, and Delores Nannigna with the Annawan Food Pantry, both of whom were in attendance at Thursday’s meeting.

The next general meeting for the full group is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Sheffield Community Center. Interested persons are encouraged to attend and join in the work of establishing a food pantry for Western Bureau County, Courtright said.

“Establishing a food pantry requires the varied talents and gifts of many people,” Courtright said. “ Your ideas are needed and welcome. Every bit of energy and resource adds up to a lot of service.”

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