This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

Food Pantry completes ten years of service
In early 1986 a group of members from area churches met and made plans to open a community food pantry. The purpose was to provide food to families facing an emergency such as the loss of a job or illness.
The Hancock County Food Pantry was opened in May 1986. A state charter was obtained and free quarters were made available by Civil Defense in their office on Old Spanish Trail. The Episcopal Church made the initial donation.
The pantry is now located in the old jail where Civil Defense has moved.
The pantry is staffed and operated entirely by volunteers form local churches. Each church has a director of volunteers. Approximately 60 volunteers are associated with the pantry.
The pantry is funded primarily by church members, clubs, organizations and other individuals who are friends of the pantry.
In the vestibule of each church is a collection box for the deposit of non-perishable foods. Each week the food is delivered to the pantry, along with any cash donations.
The only expenses are the phone bill and the purchase of food to supplement the donated food items.
Each applicant for food is required to bring a referral form from the welfare department, a church or other charitable organization. They are interviewed by a volunteer and a four- to six-day supply is bagged, according to the size of the family.
The bags are packed using a standard list. The bags contain peanut butter and jelly, canned meats, vegetables and fruit, pork and beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, soup, rice, beans, macaroni and cheese, flour,
sugar, spaghetti, hand soap and laundry and dish detergent. A bag containing bread, rolls and doughnuts is also packed.
The bakery products are donated by local bakeries and are kept in used, donated freezers.
Since the pantry opened, 8,377 families, approximately 25,073 people, have received emergency help.
Donation to Food Pantry
Wal-Mart Assistant Manager Kent Shull (left) presents a check to iEvelyn Johnson of the Hancock Food Pantry for $1,335. Shull said the store donated a percentage of sales collected from 7-11 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving. (Echo staff photo by Richard Meek)
;	9cCJ^-