The Community Foundation awarded a grant of $15,000 to help the Sheffield Ecumenical Food Pantry remodel a building that will serve as its new home. The Pantry, which has operated out of the Ruth M. Smith home for a number of years received a building donated by a local company.
“We have appreciated having the use of the basement of the Ruth Smith Home for our food pantry,” noted Tom Dunn, President of the organization, “but many of our volunteers are older, and climbing up and down the steps with boxes of food can create a hazardous situation. The new building will allow us to be all on one floor at ground level.”
“The new building is centrally located in Sheffield,” added Jack Cashmere, Food Pantry Treasurer. “This location and facility will make distribution of food much easier for our workers and our ‘customers.’ The addition of a loading dock type door on the back of the facility will make receiving food shipments a lot easier.”
John Hanna, President of the Foundation Board, and John Lasher, Executive Director, presented a check to the Food Pantry leadership and workers. “This group of dedicated volunteers has been at work serving the people of Sheffield since 1980,” Hanna noted. “The Community Foundation is pleased to support their efforts.”
Lasher added, “The Community Foundation is dedicated to helping the non-profit organizations throughout Warren County provide services to our friends and neighbors. This is a great organization and an outstanding project.”
Though the renovations will take some time, the Pantry leadership hopes to be up and running in their new home later in 2017. Watch for an open house and celebration once the work is completed.
