A number of area agencies are working hard to provide food for those in need. Add to that list the Faith Market Pantry of Colchester.
Located at 102 South Coal Street across the tracks in Colchester, the project is in the initial stages of development operating out of the Faith Tabernacle, next to the post office. For a period of time, the start-up food pantry operated out of the Colchester City Hall at Friendway Park, but they needed a location separate from the City of Colchester.
The project is the mission of Stephanie Friday and others who felt the call to provide food security for area residents. The pantry is currently open only on Saturday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The organizers would like to expand their times of operation and services pending continuing renovation to the fellowship hall at the Tabernacle, which once served as the old Colchester post office.
Friday indicated that Faith Market Pantry received their 501.c.3 status last June and is renovating the facility in order to meet inspection requirements of River Bend Food Bank out of the Quad Cities. They plan to install freezers and put in a full kitchen and dining area for later use with bi-weekly or monthly hot meals.
At present, the Faith Market relies on donations. Over the Christmas holidays, Vicky Mummert organized a meal kit plan. Family members assembled a variety of nearly 50 kits with shelf-stable ingredients for making six different meals, including recipes. For example, one kit supplied materials for chili-mac and another kit for chicken cobbler. Friday indicated that the prepared bundles were very popular with only a couple of them left.
In addition to food drives from the West Prairie school district, Mid-America Bank, and the Colchester Cheerful Chesters 4-H club, they’ve also received donations of eggs and deer meat to go along with non-perishable items. The Pantry also offers personal care/hygiene items and pet supplies. Monetary donations are also welcomed.
Faith Market Pantry of Colchester has articles of incorporation with Stephanie Friday serving as chair, Amy Lacey-Weir as secretary, Lisa Hardy as treasurer, and board members Wannetta McMurl and Abby McMurl.
For more information on the services provided and for making donations, call 309-331-9395, email at [email protected], or consult their Facebook page.
