Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry, Inc.

The Food Pantry opened in April of 2009 seeking to help those in need of food. Members of Calvary Episcopal Church felt called to organize and open the Food Pantry, but it could not operate without support from our whole community. In addition to Calvary, other local churches, businesses, individuals, service organizations, and philanthropic groups make the Food Pantry possible. We obtain food from direct donations, by direct purchase, and through MANNA FoodBank in Asheville. From MANNA, we receive food through state-administered (SNAP) and direct-federal (TEFAP) hunger-relief programs, which helps offset our costs and provides additional food for our clients. MANNA is a service organization, founded in 1982, that collects, purchases, stores, and distributes food to 231 partner agencies (such as our food pantry) in 16 counties of Western North Carolina. In 2011, the Food Pantry was incorporated as a non-profit organization. This was done for two reasons: (1) to make us eligible for one of the government programs (TEFAP) and (2) to make us eligible to apply for grants from organizations that require non-profit status. On opening day in 2009, five people came in need of food. In 2015, this ministry distributed a total of over 248,180 pounds of food. This has been possible thanks to the food, money, time, and prayers given by many, many people. That food has helped members of our many client families every single day: helped give them energy to face their challenges and helped give them some peace-of-mind from not having to worry about where the next meal might come from. As one slogan says, "One in six face hunger, five in six can help." When that happens, all six are blessed. Open every Saturday morning, 8:30-11:00 (except the Saturday between Christmas and New Year's Day).