The Bread of Life Food Pantry is here to serve

By Peter Vankevich

After several months’ suspension, the Bread of Life Food Pantry at the Life Saving Church on Lighthouse Road has reopened and reestablished its partnership with the Food Bank of the Albemarle and the Ocracoke United Methodist Church.

“We are serving six to eight families currently and look to increase that number as winter comes on when many people will be out of work as the tourist season winds down,” said Pastor Tim Howard of the Lifesaving Church on Lighthouse Road where the food pantry is located.

“Our mission is simple,” Howard said. “If you need food, come and get it. That’s what we’re here for.” He said volunteers also will deliver boxes of food to homes for those who cannot venture out.

The pantry is open on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and appointment by calling Pastor Howard at 304-676-3308.

A load of food was recently received from the Albemarle Food Bank.

“We have a pretty good stock of non-perishable food, and we also have a fair amount of frozen meat,” he said.

Ocracoke United Methodist Church is collecting funds and nonperishable food donations for the food pantry through October,” said its pastor, Desiree Adams.  Food can be dropped off inside the front doors of the church.

“The Food Pantry often helps supply food for the Community Meals that go out five days a week from the OUMC kitchen to homebound community members,” she said as part of this cooperative venture.

After Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016, the pantry was built with assistance from the Ocracoke Occupancy Tax Board and some grants. It was initially managed by Ivey Belch, then the pastor of the Assembly of God Church, with assistance from Andrea and Ed Cody.

The pantry is stocked with nonperishable items such as macaroni and cheese, cereal, canned fruit, paper goods, cleaning supplies, and frozen and refrigerated items.

First-time users complete a short intake form, which is kept confidential by both the pantry and the Food Bank. The intake form is available in English and Spanish.

Howard said his years of mission work in Central America and the pantry’s service to several Hispanic families remove language barriers.

Basic household information, but no personally identifying data, is recorded on a sign-in sheet that is sent to the Food Bank for accountability purposes.

The pantry’s supply picture has improved in recent weeks, Howard said, noting that orders from the Food Bank, which had tightened earlier in the year, have begun to grow again.

Potential cutbacks to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the United States’ largest federal nutrition assistance program designed to help eligible low-income individuals and families buy nutritious food, are concerning.

Food banks like Bread of Life could provide assistance if that occurs.

Howard said visitors to the island are welcome to drop off unused groceries on the pantry’s front porch as they depart. Those wishing to donate perishable items should call 304-676-3308 in advance so that these items can be stored properly.  You can also have food shipped directly to the pantry by visiting the pantry food list on Amazon.

The pantry has had limited contact with county services and no direct coordination with specific county programs, Howard said.

Food pantry personnel travel each month to the Mount Carmel Methodist Church in Mann’s Harbor to pick up the Albemarle provisions. In response to an outreach request this summer, islanders John and Rauna Conner donated a small box trailer to carry the goods to the island.

Launched in 1982, the Food Bank of the Albemarle, located in Elizabeth City, is a regional nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger and poverty in northeast North Carolina. It collects and distributes food to more than 100 nonprofit and faith-based partners in 15 counties.

“Food obtained through the Albemarle Food Bank is largely free, though the pantry pays a modest per-pound delivery fee and occasionally purchases refrigerated or frozen items when needed,” Howard said.

Specific items and quantities can be requested, although filling these requests will depend on what Albemarle has available.

Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation may do so online at www.lifesaving.church or mail a check to Bread of Life Food Pantry, P.O. Box 68, Ocracoke, NC 27960.