Bluffton Community Assistance Program’s food pantry is preparing for Saturday’s pantry distribution in a new way, according to Ed Yeager, board president.

“For the safety of our clients, volunteers have pre-packaged food bags for pickup on Saturday,” he said. “The pre-packaged food will be distributed beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday once clients arrive.”

The food bags contain the same amount of pantry items that are available each month, it’s just that this month volunteers made the selections rather than clients.

The bags are also prepared for the Wednesday evening food distribution that takes place at 7 p.m.

St. John’s United Church of Christ is location of the food pantry.

“We’ve created food for 60 households, which is greater than our usually monthly number,” said Yeager.

Concerning future monthly distributions, Yeager said that it is very likely this system will continue in April. 

“We are also looking to provide gift cards to clients in the future rather than opening the food pantry, to better control outbreaks of the coronas virus,” he added.

“At the point there is no time frame on how long we will continue these monthly changes,” said Yeager. “Our volunteers are doing our best to try to make everything run as smoothly as possible following mandated regulations and still providing for each of our client needs.”

Here's how to donate food items:
Canned and packaged food items may be taken to St. John’s United Church of Christ weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The pantry workers ask that items be delivered by the Wednesday before the third Saturday Distribution day and after the Wednesday evening distribution.

Stocking the shelves and preparing the pantry is done on the Thursday before Distribution Saturday. Ring the doorbell on the College Avenue side of the church to deliver food items. 

Food distribution dates
Food distribution dates are the third Saturday of each month from 8 to 11 a.m. and the Wednesday, which follows the third Saturday from 7 to 8 p.m.

The food pantry is open to residents of the Bluffton school district. An application for food assistance is available during the monthly food distribution dates.

Volunteer director Jami Crawfis works with several other community volunteers. Connie Maroscher handles the monthly food pantry distribution with Basil Meyer, Donna Kidd and Elaine Harris assisting her.

Stocking the pantry each month are some former teachers from Bluffton Elementary School and other friends interested in serving the community by helping with the pantry. Nancy Yeager oversees this area. Persons interested in assisting in any of these areas may contact Ed Yeager, board president.

Board members of the Community Assistance Program are: Ed Yeager, president; Robert Everett, treasurer; Fred Steiner, secretary; Basil Meyer, Lin Rumer, Ray Hammond and Pat Rodabaugh.

Monetary donations accepted
Persons are also encouraged to make monetary contributions. Those may be mailed to:
Bluffton Community Assistance Program
PO Box 52
Bluffton, OH 45817