© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Morgan County Food Pantry Building Expansive New Facility

Capital Area Food Bank of Texas
/
Flickr

For the Ivy Bend Food Pantry in southern Morgan County, the facility has been a long time coming.

Since acting President Melvin Byrd started working with the pantry, it has been located in a trailer near a church. But in recent years, the pantry has been on its own with two trailers connected together.

Now, after receiving a $308,210 grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the food pantry is constructing its own building.

“We usually have 24-28 volunteers working in the two trailers,” Byrd said. “We have more room to operate and wouldn’t be as crowded as we were in the trailer.”

The pantry hopes to hold more events to bring the community together in the new facility, including dinners for senior citizens. Morgan County Presiding Commissioner James Bryant said the new facility will have a big impact for the residents of Morgan County.

“Food security in Morgan County is a concern, it’s countywide not just Ivy Bend,” Bryant said. “But streamlining the process [of getting food to those in need] and making it more user-friendly is a good thing.”

The new facility is still currently under construction, but Byrd hopes the facility will be open by late May or early June.

Kyle Norris is from Michigan and spent ten years as a host and reporter with Michigan Radio, the state’s largest NPR-affiliate. He lives in Seattle and works as a producer, reporter and educator.
Related Content