Storehouse Community Food Pantry of Vicksburg, Mississippi

The Food Pantry was the idea of Barbara Tolliver, former Executive Director of the United Way and the Reverends Diane and Bill Livingston, formerly of Christ Episcopal Church to create a single agency in the community to provide food for the needy. They then enlisted a group of 45 interested people representing the different churches, agencies, and organizations from Warren County. The name Storehouse Community Food Pantry was decided upon using a biblical reference (Malachi 3:10) as we are a Judeo-Christian organization. We have been in existence for the last thirteen years and provide food for over 4000 individuals per year. Since we provide food for three days for each person in the household, this equates to approximately 36,000 meals per year. Our mission is to obtain food and support from public and private sources for distribution to individuals and families requiring temporary assistance. The food we distribute is for residents of Warren County in emergency situations and for transients in need of food. We are an all volunteer organization with no paid employees. The United Way has helped us in many ways since our inception, but we are not a United Way agency; therefore we do not receive any funds from this organization. Every dime we receive goes to the purchase of food, our rent, and the few supplies we need. In order to be served, a photo ID and Social Security cards on all members of the household must be presented and other pertinent information provided. We cannot sustain the recipients but are here for emergencies only. Assistance may be given up to 3 times in twelve months but they must wait at least 30 days between any visits. The food bags consist of such items when available, as canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned meat, soup, cereal, grits, oatmeal,evaporated or powdered milk, tomato sauce, spaghetti, rice, dried beans, macaroni and cheese, crackers, peanut butter and jelly, bread, flour, sugar, cornmeal, juice, toilet tissue, soap, hot dogs or frozen chicken and any other items which have been donated. We are now located in the older building of Crawford St. Methodist Church at 907 South Street across from Holy Trinity Church. The Food Pantry is open three days a week: Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. - 12 noon, Thursday evening from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.