The Good Samaritan Food Pantry’s Hours of operations:

Every Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Second and Fourth Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

The food pantry serves anyone in the West Jefferson and Galloway areas.  Clients should bring a picture I.D. and a piece of mail to prove residency.  There is no income qualifications.

On March 1, 2005 we marked our 10th year of feeding the needy. The doors opened on 03-01-95 by Pat and Bill Burris. Since then they have fed thousands of people of all ages. I became director in August, 1996 when the health of the founders prohibited them from continuing.

Our volunteers work many hours keeping the pantry stocked and cleaned. They clean out the refrigerator and freezers, mop floors and dust shelves in addition to stocking the pantry with food and packing boxes. They pick up bread in London and Hilliard. Phil Kelly picks up food at the Mid Ohio Food Bank every week since the doors opened. Pauline Cullman has volunteered in the pantry since it began and helps in many different areas.

In 2004 the pantry was able to help 3997 families, a total of 12,284 people were fed. We give enough food for 5 meals a day for 5 days which means our little pantry in West Jefferson supplied enough food for 184,260 meals. I believe we are offering a much needed service here.

Good Samaritan is a community food pantry housed in the Methodist church which also provides utilities. We are incorporated and non profit in our own right. Without their help we would have closed our doors in a few months. This is a big mission for them. We usually receive a small grant from FEMA yearly which covers 1 month’s work. Our yearly budget is climbing and so is the number of clients we serve. These are not necessarily homeless people but the working poor. Many families cannot make ends meet on just one salary. Babysitting fees, utilities, rent and keeping a car in working order are high. Many older clients must choose between food and medications. Without proper medication, they will become ill. Without proper nutrition, medication will not work properly and they become ill. One of our most important services is the supplying of Ensure products to people who cannot afford this highly useful product. We are currently supplying the home health agencies in London with Ensure for their needy clients in Madison County.

Our main project of the year is the Thanksgiving dinners. We have been giving away all the makings for a complete meal to be cooked in the home by our families since 1996. For about $16.00, we can feed a family of four a complete dinner. Last year we fed well over 200 families. Again this is a community effort and would not be possible without so much support.

Our pantry is supported by many local churches including: West Jefferson UMC represented by Bob Pearce, Pauline Cullman and Betty Webb; Zion Lutheran Church with Norma Hicks and Millie McNutt; St. Simon and Jude by Sen Barr and Cruz Williams; Madison County Vineyard Church with Doug and Connie Runyon; First Baptist with Patty Hoggey; Church of Christ in Christian Union with Joyce Braithwait; Trinity UMC and Grace Bible Fellowship with Paul Watson. Many of the churches women’s groups have supported us since we began.

The above volunteers and many more work throughout the week to be able to open their doors on Wednesday afternoon. Sunday and Monday they pack boxes. Tuesday morning they pick up bread in London. In the afternoon they drive to Columbus to the Food Bank to pick up at least 1 ton of food. A crew at the pantry, is sorting, stocking the shelves and putting the food away. On Wednesday we pick up bread at London and Hilliard; set up for the open pantry; a crew bags up daily frozen and refrigerated food to be given away; get out files and products for clients to choose; open the doors at 2 p.m. and serve until 4 p.m. assembling orders, taking to cars and returning carts to pantry, clean up, put away food, chairs, tables, pick up trash, sweep and mop the area and take out trash. Thursday we receive the shopping list from the food bank and check inventory. Friday we order for next week’s pick up. What a Wonderful job all of you do to accomplish these tasks each week. If you have extra time and can volunteer to help, please contact Susan Maggard for more information.

Susan Maggard, Director