Food pantry desperately needs donations

The Morgan County Clergy Association is urging all churches to take up food and cash donations to benefit the Morgan County Interfaith Emergency Cooperative and the McEAT food pantry.

The cooperative is a central clearinghouse for people in severe need and facing the challenges of having enough to eat and to meet other pressing needs in their lives.

John Locke, secretary of the clergy association, says that applications for help are up while donations are down.

Rick Vance, Pastor of Wesley Chapel and Michael's Chapel United Methodist Churches, says that he is urging his congregations to bring in non-perishable food donations and cash donations the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

The clergy association is urging other churches to do the same with collections either the Sunday before Thanksgiving or the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Churches do not have to be a member of the clergy association to donate.
Bob Osborne, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Berkeley Springs, says that the community and churches can take donations to the food pantry which is centrally located behind St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, on Mercer Street in Berkeley Springs on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The clearinghouse typically delivers about $40,000 a year in services. Because they are able to buy food in bulk at lower cost, they benefit from cash donations.

The clearinghouse was established to coordinate the efficient and effective meeting of needs in the community while at the same time establishing accountability. Any help will be gratefully accepted.

If you have questions or for more information, call Rick Vance, 304-258-7722.