The food pantry at Second Baptist Church in Monticello has received $45,000 in grant money and food credits from Arkansas Foodbank, six months after it opened.
The pantry announced the awards in a statement published by The Advance-Monticellonian on Thursday.
What the money covers
- $30,000 grant: Pays for equipment and improvements to food handling, storage and distribution.
- $15,000 in food credits: Buys groceries to fill gaps in donated food and add variety.
The capacity grant comes through Arkansas Foodbank’s Feeding Forward program. The program offers grants of up to $30,000 to partner pantries that score highest on measures such as weekly distribution and letting clients choose their own food. The foodbank’s published timeline set first-round awards for Sept. 15, with projects and equipment purchases running through Dec. 31.
Six months of numbers
The pantry opened in April at the church at 1032 Old Warren Road. It reports these totals so far:
- Food: More than 175,000 pounds of rescued and donated food.
- Visits: 4,417 individual visits and 2,236 household visits.
- Volunteers: Nearly 3,000 hours of volunteer work.
The pantry uses a client-choice setup. Drew County residents book an appointment and pick their own food instead of taking a pre-packed box.
Growth since spring
Pantry director Adena Handly earlier told the Monticello City Council that the pantry had served more than 1,000 people and asked for help finding a building dedicated to the pantry. Baptist Health Medical Center-Drew County offered free health screenings at the church on several pantry days this year through a partnership with Arkansas Foodbank.
How to reach the pantry
Drew County residents can call the Second Baptist Church Food Pantry at 870-367-2459 or email [email protected] to schedule a visit or volunteer.
Sources: Second Baptist Church Food Pantry via The Advance-Monticellonian; Arkansas Foodbank; Baptist Health; Monticello City Council.
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