PRIDE TO REOPEN PARK CITY FOOD PANTRY
Park City Pride Committee Chairperson Jan McGonigle announced this month that the Park City Food Pantry will begin distribution of food assistance on February 18. Pride had operated the pantry for ten years, but closed it last spring to regroup and rethink the process.
Pride members and volunteers including members of the Park City Church of the Nazarene are working in committees to spread the work and ensure that several people are familiar with each stage of the process, from ordering and inventory to picking up food and keeping records. Much of the food will come from the Kansas Food Bank Warehouse, with donations from the community. Pride has committed $6,000 to the food pantry in 2012.
Distribution is planned for the third Saturday of the remaining months in 2012, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Dates for this year are: February 18, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, and December 15. The food pantry will be located at the Park City Pride Community Building at 6512 E. Park View.
Pride will have an information packet prepared for clients listing guidelines and requirements. Each month, clients will be required to prove residence within the corporate city limits of Park City, meet the financial guidelines used by the USDA for commodities distribution and provide proof of household income, including all moneys received by residents of the house. Able bodied clients will be expected to carry their own groceries to their vehicles.
In addition, Pride and its volunteers will try to include recipes and cooking tips that can be useful in cooking the food distributed that month. The pantry will focus on providing staples, including beneficial items such as rice, beans, and pasta. If clients express an interest, Pride will arrange cooking classes at the Pride Center with the agents at the Extension Office in Wichita.
In the efforts to assist those in need, donations of time and money are always welcome. Pride may be reached by leaving a message at 744-8685 or at www.parkcitypride.org in the comments section.