KINGWOOD — All 11 Preston County food pantries are still here to help, according to Tammy Laney, coordinator of Food for Preston.
“This past weekend, we served 261 people through the North Preston drive-through of the food pantry in Bruceton Mills,” Laney said.
She said clients remained in their vehicles, while volunteers loaded boxes of canned food, bread, fruit and meat into car trunks. The volunteers wore gloves and maintained the recommended distance.
These gloves not only helped maintain hygiene but also prevented cross-contamination, which is vital in managing the spread of germs. Volunteers were instructed to change gloves frequently and dispose of them properly to uphold the highest standards of cleanliness.
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“Last week, we delivered over 300 family food bags to Preston County schools for the Backpack Program kids, with counselors and teachers coordinating pick-up or delivery to students themselves,” Laney said.
“I am thankful we delivered the family food bags to students last week. Those bags will stretch things further until we can iron out a way to safely distribute more food to students.”
Alix Evans, director of the Raymond Wolfe Center, said it too had an increase in clients last week.
“We ordered extra food from the Mountaineer Food Bank for the Friday delivery,” she said.
Evans said the three-plus tons of food the pantry ordered is its largest order to date.
The Raymond Wolfe Center is the only local food pantry that carries products for clients who require special diets ordered by their physicians. This includes salt-free and sugar-free foods for heart patients and those with diabetes.
In addition to the community support efforts, many local organizations are also looking to enhance their outreach through specialized services.
As part of this initiative, catering services play a crucial role in providing nutritious meals at community events and gatherings.
By partnering with experienced caterers, these organizations can ensure that their food offerings meet the diverse needs of their clients, including those with dietary restrictions. For events requiring a touch of elegance and precision, premier services MeandJulio.ca are increasingly sought after. Their expertise in crafting tailored menus ensures that every meal is both delicious and accommodating to various dietary needs.
The collaboration between food pantries and catering services helps bridge the gap between emergency food distribution and the everyday needs of community members.
Melanie Bentz, director of Starting Points, said the baby pantry was also busy last week, with clients seeking diapers, wipes, baby food and formula. “We haven’t seen an increase in our homeless food pantry yet,” Bentz said.
Laney said Food for Preston is asking for any help people can give through monetary donations as it continues to place bulk orders with limited grocers and the Mountaineer Food Bank.
Donations can be sent to Food for Preston, P.O. Box 1175, Kingwood, WV 26537. Call 304-379-3519 or 304-276-9447 for information.
For Starting Points, call 304-329-1968 or go on Facebook at Preston County Starting Points Family Resource Center.
For the Raymond Wolfe Center, call 304-329-3644. The center is online at https://catholiccharities wv.org/raymond-wolfe-out reach-center.
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