With federal food assistance wavering, food pantries are scrambling to bridge the gap. They can use your help.
The uncertainty of federal food assistance is hitting food pantries and feeding programs in town hard. Christian Help reports that pantry support requests increased by 53% in October, and Pantry Plus More’s usual distribution of 240 school families jumped to 346 on November 1.
One of the best ways to help is to donate money to Mountaineer Food Bank. Large regional food banks that supply smaller local pantries can make giant bulk purchases at steep discounts, so your dollar goes further to feed the hungry.
But donations directly to local pantries and food drives have a place, too. When there’s a spike in need, direct donations get food to people faster. And donating in person or volunteering lets you involve a child as an educational experience or feel a more immediate connection to the effort yourself.
Organizations and businesses all across town are stepping up their efforts to help—we list some of them below. Most can use food, money, and helping hands; some prefer money in order to buy what they need most. When you choose food items to donate, look for unexpired packages of non-perishable foods like canned meats, fruits, and vegetables; pasta and pasta sauce; and peanut butter.
Christian Help
219 Walnut Street
Christian Help always welcomes donations of food, other life essentials, and money as well as volunteers. On-site donations are accepted Monday–Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Coffee Tree Roasters
725 Fairmont Road, Westover
Coffee Tree is accepting donations through November and will deliver to local food pantries weekly.
Community Kitchen
Many people rely on the free lunches Community Kitchen serves downtown Monday through Friday. Donations of food, supplies, time, and money are always appreciated, and even more now.
Pantry Plus More
9 Roush Drive, Westover
Pantry Plus More feeds the hungry through in-school pantries, mobile food giveaway, and monthly distribution at sites across the county. The “Donate” page on the website lists specific items that are needed, and the organization makes the most of financial donations by purchasing through Mountaineer Food Bank. Volunteers are also always needed!
The Royal Treatment
1163 Green Bag Road
Drop non-perishable food items off through November for delivery to local pantries. 1 item = 1 raffle entry for a self-care prize.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army serves lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and dinner on Sunday at Hazel’s House of Hope on Scott Avenue. It makes efficient use of your financial donation.
St. Ursula Food Pantry
3346 University Avenue, Star City
Food donations are accepted at St. Ursula Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Financial donations may be made on the St. Mary Catholic Church website by choosing the green “St. Ursula Food Pantry and Outreach” button—or mail a check to P.O. Box 18, Pursglove WV, 25646.
Scott’s Run Settlement House
41 Lady Bug Lane
750 Fairchance Road
Among the many good things Scott’s Run Settlement House does for residents of Monongalia County is food assistance, including distributing bags of supplemental food to hundreds of children in schools across the county each Friday. The website makes it easy to donate money, supplies, and time.
You can also find a map of blessing boxes around town on the Morgantown Human Rights Commission’s web page. And for a list of food pantries in Preston County, visit foodforpreston.org.
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