The Legacy of the Pawnee Food Pantry
By Cindy Ladage
The Pawnee Food Pantry is a community group that is making a difference in people’s lives one meal at a time! It is a 501C and has exemption status.
Nancy Oliver, President of the Pawnee Food Pantry Board, and Marilyn Fitzpatrick, Vice President of the Board shared that the food pantry was established back in 2006. “We are here to serve the community’s needs,” Nancy Oliver said.
“Before the food pantry, a couple churches, the Pawnee Assembly of God, and the United Methodist Church had food pantry’s,” Marilyn said. “When we had the Ministerial Alliance that is how the food pantry got started.”
“It was a member of every church in Pawnee,” Marilyn said. At the time, there were five churches, St. Mary’s Catholic church, which has since been destroyed by fire, the Pawnee Assembly of God, The New Horizon’s Baptist Church, which has since closed, The Pawnee Christian Church, and the United Methodist Church.
While today only the three churches are left, Nancy said that former members of the Catholic and Batist Churches continue to serve at the pantry along with one month headed up by a community group. The community group represents those of other churches, volunteers and businesses. The community group represents those of other churches or volunteers that just want to help. The community group joined the food pantry around 2014. Other groups are welcome to join in, a group of Pawnee Lutherans, may form soon.
The Pawnee Food Pantry is governed by a board with Nancy Oliver President, Marilyn Fitzpatrick, Vice President, Marsha Johnson, treasurer, and Linda S. Butler, secretary. Other board members are comprised of Janet Chambers, Mary Spain, Cathy Acree, Jessica
Megginson, and Kay Remillard. “We all have a voice,” Marilyn explained adding that at meetings the treasurer, Vice President, and president all give a report each month. Due to the personal information, meetings are confidential.
“Whoever is in charge of the pantry that month gives a report on how many clients were served, how many new clients were added, and if any were assisted in other ways,” Marilyn said.
The criteria to be served by the Pawnee Food Pantry is simple, you just have to live within the Pawnee School District, which actually is quite large expanding into Sangamon, Christian, Montgomery and Macoupin Counties. Generally, anyone living in the district in need is welcome. “Our feeling is it takes a lot to walk through the door and get help,” Marilyn said about their policy to serve all in need.
“There is no salary base requirement, just a need whether temporary, or longer. Clients can come once every 28 days,” she added. Individuals or families receive enough food to last a week.
The food pantry serves to supplement food needs. Marilyn said that they use the government set guidelines for the amounts received.
The Pawnee Food Pantry has a constitution that was set up at the time the food pantry was formed. “Every July we review it, and make changes as needed,” Marilyn said.
The food pantry is open every Monday from 11-2, and on the 3rd Monday of the month, from 5:30 until 7:30. Donations are always welcome at the food pantry whether they be cash or food. There is a donation can that shows up at different locations throughout town. Donations are also taken online as well through Amazon.
Many local community groups assist with the food pantry. Recently the Pawnee Prairie Day queens held a food drive and are now collecting school supplies for back to school. “If it wasn’t for the community, we wouldn’t be open. We have lots of community support,” Nancy said.
School groups, local businesses, and more come out to help. However, at the food pantry they would love to have more volunteers willing to work. “We also need board members,” Nancy added. “Board member volunteers need to have a real passion to be on the board because it is a commitment, and this is getting harder and harder to find.”
New members will bring new ideas and offer more support for this important community service that makes such a difference for so many.
To find out what is going on at the Pawnee Food Pantry, they share it on their Facebook page as well as the Pawnee News & Views page.
Food items that fall within the expiration guidelines are welcome. The Pawnee Food Pantry follows guidelines set out by the federal government on what they can and can’t accept. Even those items over the date though are set in a place where citizens can choose to take them if wanted. While the pantry doesn’t purchase pet food, it is also a welcome addition to the pantry. Baby food can fall into this category. Garden produce is a welcome treat as well.
“All the money donated to us goes for food,” Marilyn said. The building at the Pawnee Food Pantry belongs to the Village of Pawnee, and they take care of the upkeep, while food pantry volunteers keep it clean along with other groups like Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous that also use the space. Before it became the food pantry, the building was once the police station and jail, then served as the Pawnee Public library for many years before housing the Pawnee Food Pantry.
Knowing how difficult it can be for individuals during the holidays, the Pawnee Food Pantry takes this into consideration. They supply Easter Baskets for the needy, and during summertime, and breaks they offer snack bags for the kids. At Christmas and Thanksgiving,
extra food is added, and snack bags are available along with presents during the Christmas holiday.
Birthday bags have been donated as well by Dollar General and Dollar Tree, to help with wrapping for those holiday events. For patrons that don’t have cars, and cannot acquire a ride, on occasion, volunteers are able to deliver food to a residence.
Those that purchase food for the Pawnee Food Pantry either order online, or shop for the food mostly at Walmart.
If you have the time and passion to assist the Pawnee Food Pantry, you will be welcomed with open arms. Call 217-303-2332 if you would like to volunteer or have an interest in becoming a board member.
Donations can also be dropped off during food pantry hours, or at the library and banks. The food pantry is a link between food insecurity that provides the basic needs for our local citizens.