Samantha Dolezal organizes items at the Blessing Food Pantry. She says the pantry needs a leader that can devote more time to it.
Pantry serves a need, has needs itself
by Mary Le Arneal
Published 7/12/23
In a 45-day time period, from May 1 to June 15 this year, North Bend’s Blessings Food Pantry served 501 people.
The guidelines for the pantry are that the people receiving the aid live in the North Bend school district and be in need, though no proof of income is required.
“That is a huge area to serve,” Sam Dolezal said. She is on the session of the United Presbyterian Church and on the Mission and Evangelism committee. “There are 15 different zip codes in the North Bend district. We just ask if the kids are in North Bend schools.”
There are also food panties in Fremont and Schuyler. Dolezal said she feels all of the needs for the local pantry are coming from the North Bend, Morse Bluff area.
Though the pantry was started at the United Presbyterian Church, Dolezal says it has become a community effort.
“People from different churches, those with no church, youth groups, the North Bend Locker Plant, the Mini-Mart are all working with us,” Dolezal said. “They want this to work too. This is where the best part of a small town shines.”
The pantry was the vision of a former UPC pastor. Now Dolezal says the pantry is now searching for a leader who is in for the long haul and has a passion for the pantry, a person with a vision who will work for resources and grants, whatever the pantry needs are.
“We are at a point where we are struggling to find true leadership,” Dolezal said.
The pantry is fully volunteer run and Dolezal said they are doing an awesome job. They realize they are a church first, and a pantry second.
“The volunteers are serving from that capacity to love the clients,” Dolezal said. “There are three men who work who give candy to the children. That little bit of love makes it personable, just nice for the children.”
Blessings Pantry received a grant from Care Corps for vouchers used to get fresh milk and eggs at the Mini Mart. The grant funded about $1,600 worth of food a month. The grant ended June 15 so the vouchers are no longer available.
“We need a better way of doing the voucher system,” Dolezal said.
They see an increase need at the end of the month as many of the clients receive SNAP, the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program which pays for food items. The program does not pay for paper products, laundry detergent, toothpaste, diapers, toiletries, etc. It is these items that the food pantry provides.
“We’re here to fill the gap,” volunteer Cheryl Hansen said. “The time at the end of the month until their SNAP card gets refilled or they get paid.”
The long term project is to get people over the hump.
“We don’t want to be so we can’t keep up,” Dolezal said. “How can we share love with all individuals without the volunteers being over whelmed? We need to find a balance for volunteers and those seeking service.”
They need realistic expectations. Asking themselves what is the value of this, whether they are donating or receiving
“Where do we go from here?” Dolezal said. “We feel like we are treading water, feeling comfortable with what we’re doing so we can hand it off to another person. We want it to be valuable to the congregation and community.”
Dolezal wanted to give special recognition to Anne Soukup for her help in making everything run. She also acknowledges the school for donating leftover cereal packs, North Bend Locker Plant for donating meat, and the North Bend Mini Mart for working with the vouchers.
“There is a whole boatload of people behind the pantry,” Dolezal said. “They are all appreciated.”
Pantry needs:
There are always needs at the Blessings Food Pantry and the shelves are pretty bare now.
“The three largest things that we need are paper towels, toilet paper and laundry detergent,” Dolezal said.
Other items needed are cream soups, toothpaste, toothbrushes, fruit cups, cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, canned tuna, canned chicken, bar soap, baby wipes, cake mixes, instant rice, Hamburger Helper, macaroni and cheese, canned vegetables, instant mashed potatoes, peanut butter, jelly and jam, oatmeal and Ramen noodles.
Non-perishable donations can be made at the local church or the North Bend Public Library. Online orders can be shipped directly to the church, just e-mail the church (upnbne@gpcom.net) to let them know a package is coming.
Garden produce can be taken directly to the pantry during times it is open: the first and third Mondays from 6-7 p.m., Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 11 and Thursdays 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Those preferring to make monetary donations can donate to the United Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 476, North Bend, NE 68649. Make checks out to Blessings Pantry.
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