Our Story
The Martha T. Simmons Food Pantry currently gives out between 100-150 family sized boxes of fresh produce and shelf stable items each week most Fridays from 4:00-6:00pm. Once or twice a year because of church activities we move to the following Saturday (watch for notices and street signage beginning a week or two before when this happens).
Our Food Pantry started in 1974 due to the work of a parishioner named Martha Simmons. She was concerned by the extent of food insecurity in McDowell county so she began addressing the need with a "food closet" by bringing nonperishable items to the Parish House and storing them in large closet. She encouraged others at St. John's to keep it stocked and thus began the first food pantry in McDowell County. For thirty years all the food was donated by church members, and the Rector gave out items from the closet when people requested assistance. We still greatly rely on private donations as well as purchasing from MANNA (the Western North Carolina Food Bank), the yearly Post Office food collection and donations of food from local businesses.
As time passed, more people became aware of our resource and the increasing need began to be more than one or two people could handle. To meet the growing demand, St. John's discovered the joy that can come from building a lay-led outreach effort. In 2007, a committee was developed to form a plan utilizing the space on the lower level of the Parish House. Eventually a distribution system was established with computer registration of the clients so we could serve them better. We established day of the week for Pantry operations and set hours for access (our Clergy and office staff still have access to food for emergency visitors during the week).
In 2014 a large local market began to donating regularly to the food pantry. We regularly receive pantry staples, meats, dairy, bakery, frozen food, deli items, fresh vegetables and fruits. St. John’s also receives items and makes additional purchases at discount rates from Manna Food Bank. We are grateful to area farmers and farm supported businesses, like the Tomas family who own TC Farms/PG Produce and generously donate fresh produce when possible to help feed our neighbors.
In the spring of 2014, St. John’s Community Garden (SJCG) was established to grow fresh produce for the Food Pantry. . The garden produces over 1000 pounds of food a year for our Food Pantry. It is located behind the Church Office, across the parking lot from the Food Pantry . Through our garden team's relationships with area farmers, we receive additional food throughout the summer months.
If you'd like to see what goes on behind the scenes, here is a brief video made by one of our volunteers. If you would like to make a financial donation to help, please us the food pantry donation link on our Donate page.
Our Food Pantry started in 1974 due to the work of a parishioner named Martha Simmons. She was concerned by the extent of food insecurity in McDowell county so she began addressing the need with a "food closet" by bringing nonperishable items to the Parish House and storing them in large closet. She encouraged others at St. John's to keep it stocked and thus began the first food pantry in McDowell County. For thirty years all the food was donated by church members, and the Rector gave out items from the closet when people requested assistance. We still greatly rely on private donations as well as purchasing from MANNA (the Western North Carolina Food Bank), the yearly Post Office food collection and donations of food from local businesses.
As time passed, more people became aware of our resource and the increasing need began to be more than one or two people could handle. To meet the growing demand, St. John's discovered the joy that can come from building a lay-led outreach effort. In 2007, a committee was developed to form a plan utilizing the space on the lower level of the Parish House. Eventually a distribution system was established with computer registration of the clients so we could serve them better. We established day of the week for Pantry operations and set hours for access (our Clergy and office staff still have access to food for emergency visitors during the week).
In 2014 a large local market began to donating regularly to the food pantry. We regularly receive pantry staples, meats, dairy, bakery, frozen food, deli items, fresh vegetables and fruits. St. John’s also receives items and makes additional purchases at discount rates from Manna Food Bank. We are grateful to area farmers and farm supported businesses, like the Tomas family who own TC Farms/PG Produce and generously donate fresh produce when possible to help feed our neighbors.
In the spring of 2014, St. John’s Community Garden (SJCG) was established to grow fresh produce for the Food Pantry. . The garden produces over 1000 pounds of food a year for our Food Pantry. It is located behind the Church Office, across the parking lot from the Food Pantry . Through our garden team's relationships with area farmers, we receive additional food throughout the summer months.
If you'd like to see what goes on behind the scenes, here is a brief video made by one of our volunteers. If you would like to make a financial donation to help, please us the food pantry donation link on our Donate page.
