HELP Pantry - "Hunger Eased by Loving Persons"

The HELP pantry,  located at Memorial  Presbyterian Church, was started in 1982.   Unemployment in Midland County rose from 12.6% to 13.7% in January and February 1982. Discussions began on how to help with local hunger needs.  Memorial Presbyterian Church transformed a vacant room into a pantry to provide food to the Department of Social Services who were helping their clients who had run out of food and food stamps. The HELP pantry became part of the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network in 1984.

The pantry at Memorial Presbyterian operates on a “you pick” basis. Clients make appointments and then are allowed to choose a weeks worth of items based on the size of their families. Volunteers staff the  pantry in the  afternoon, five days each week except Holidays. Over 40 people volunteer on  a regular basis to keep the pantry operating.  Emergency Boxes, containing 2 to 3 days of food supplies, are available  anytime Memorial Presbyterian Church is open.