Advice welcomed, re: starting a small non-perishable food community pantry

[reflection]

I live in an area which has a fair amount of poverty, but the local food banks aren't nearby. They have volunteers who deliver groceries and meals, but based on my interaction with the folks in the area, there are some people who are getting missed, especially undocumented immigrants.

What I envision is a small distribution point of non-perishable goods. I've spoken with some of the local grocers and have commitments for excess canned goods as well as boxes to help in the transport. I was gravitating toward using a local storage facility where you rent a space monthly, and then setting a schedule for pickups where my family would be available to administer the food. We could do separate deliveries when necessary. The storage facility owner was receptive to my idea, which was surprising, as I figured he would have an issue with someone running a small organization out of one of his spaces.

I've hit a stumbling block with the Department of Health. They require that each pantry have its own restroom, mop sink, dumpster area and someone on staff at all times to accommodate drop-in health inspections. Which I completely understand, but it kind of kills the storage area aspect, as I cannot man the facility at all times. I was hoping to address the concept of purchasing a self-contained space later if this thing evolves into something greater, but it seems as if I'll have to tackle it on the front end.

Anyone have any ideas? Maybe my time and effort would be better spent partnering with the existing local food banks and getting them to intensify their outreach in the areas with those people who are hungry, but are not comfortable being too visible? I'm kind of grasping at straws here, sorry if I am a bit inarticulate as to what I'm trying to do here.

[KittyWampus]

1. Find a local church. That's what we did.

[reflection]

2. Yes, that's a possibility.

Although I was hoping to get around having to deal with a religious organization for this. Based on my experiences with working with them for these goals (and I have plenty of it) they tend to distribute religion along with the food, and it makes me uncomfortable. But they definitely have the networks and the space to help, so I'm certainly not discounting it. Thanks.

[ChazII]

7. Religion talks do not

have to be part of the giving out the food. I volunteer at St. Stephen's food bank here in Phoenix, AZ. No speeches just smiles (and of course food ) are distributed. The bank is a small trailer like one would see at a construction site.

No bathrooms or other things you mentioned. There are rules like no food on the ground. Everything is on shelves and we box the food. We are lucky to have two families owned bakeries that donate their goods to us and other small food banks in the community. When folks come in the get a choice of what kind of bread they would like to have in their box. Last we served 49 families.

Parishioners donate some of the food and St. S is also partnered with United Food Bank. Families can come once a month for a food box. The box contains enough food for one week. This food bank is only open on Wednesday's from 9-12. United Food bank requires I.D and all sorts of stats so there is paper work if you get involved with a gov't agency.

The other place I volunteer is at First Baptist Church (American Baptist) in Scottsdale. Again, no sermons!!!!!!! The philosophy is to reflect the love of Jesus. So again, no preaching! This bank concentrates on free appliances, clothes and food. Like St. S, the food box is for one week. We also give out sack lunches on a daily basis. We are always in need of mens clothing but other than that all types of clothing can be found. It is actually housed in a very small house that was the caretaker's house. Food boxes are also once a month. This food bank is open M-W-F from 10-12. No gov't involved so no i.d. is required.

Feel free to ask questions and I will try to answer or find answers.

[reflection]

12. Thank you Chaz.

Your thoughts, along with the UU recommendation from another poster, give me some hope that perhaps I can help fill this gap without reinventing the wheel. I've got some researching to do it seems. I will bookmark this conversation also and take you up on your offer to lean on you if I have any questions. Thank you for that.

[Melinda]

3. Mobile pantry has 2 options: Distribute from vehicle, set up free stand

These are some of the of the options we use in my area. The Fresno Community Food bank has a mobile pantry they use to travel to outlying areas. A mobile pantry can distribute from inside the vehicle (RV) OR set up stands and distribute outside the vehicle. This allows access to many areas of distribution such as schools, church's, parking lots of agencies, stores, etc.

I do not know the requirements for this form of distribution, but it's worth looking into. I wish you all the luck in the world, and am so happy and pleased to know YOU are part of DU. I love you for this. I really do.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. What the 1st response said

I'm involved (heavily) with two food banks in NJ. Fortunately we could meet those requirements easily.


Not sure where you live - do you have a UU Church Nearby? I would bet you anything if you reached out to one of our Pastors their fellowship would vote to help you out in a heartbeat.


http://www.uua.org/directory/congregations/

The other thing is - if there is not one directly in your area - maybe they have a connection or member who IS in your area. I know a woman down in TN that drives an hour each way to get to her closest fellowship.


See - I could see her using her contacts in the restaurant and hotel business to help you out. IE - Could we put up a tent in your parking lot if we get permission from you and the city to hand out canned goods and non perishable items twice a month. Hotel or Restaurant that is only open for dinners and lunch might like the publicity.


I know the restaurant owners who I get donations from (connected to my husband - families go back to the old county ) - they do 'drives' for us. It's a real public relations coup.

[reflection]

6. Thanks to everyone for some very good advice,

and thank you to Melinda for your very nice words. I needed them today so they are much appreciated.

[HardTimes99]

8. Those Health Department regulations seems a bit onerous for a

distribution center for non-perishable items. Why do they require a 'mop sink' and 'dumpster area'?

BTW, my wife and I are signing tp to volunteer today with our local foodbank (West Los Angeles). I wish to commend your efforts and ideas. And I'm bookmarking this thread so I can follow it closely.

[jwirr]

9. Years ago we ran private (run by ARC) schools for special ed children out of local churches because

public schools would not accept them. Ask around some of your more liberal churches (in our case it was a Lutheran Church) for the use of one of their rooms for food storage. You may still be able to partner with the larger programs as an outreach unit.

In our community many of the food programs are either run out of these churches or at least one is run out of the National Guard Armory.

[ChazII]

10. kick

[Duer 157099]

11. Craigslist?

Don't know the legalities, but maybe advertise free canned goods to those in need? Not as a pantry, but as a citizen with extra canned goods?