Pantry Volunteer loads groceries

January 23, 2012 - Recently the Community Foundation paid a visit to the Prodisee Pantry facility located in Spanish Fort, Alabama. Prodisee Pantry is a faith-based nonprofit community food pantry.

In July of 2011 Prodisee Pantry received a $250,000 grant from The Community Foundation of South Alabama to assist families recovering from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The grant was made possible by a grant received by the Community Foundation from the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Gulf Recovery Fund. 

The Community Foundation visited the site on Tuesday, food distribution day, January 17^th to observe the Pantry operation. What might have seemed like chaos to the casual observer was actually a carefully orchestrated symphony of logical activity. Each volunteer from the client intake area, interview tables, warehouse, food distribution point and loading areas knew their jobs intimately and performed them with a smile.

 Here’s how it all works. Every Wednesday, one week prior to distribution, hordes of volunteers carefully pack hundreds of boxes with nonperishable food goods. Each box has a large number printed on its side— from 1 to 5—which denotes the type and amount of food inside the box. During intake, clients are assigned a number based on their family’s need. That number corresponds with the number on the prepacked boxes.  When the client’s name is called a grocery cart with the box is already awaiting them.  Perishable food items are added to the grocery cart at the very last minute and then a volunteer walks the client to their vehicle and helps them load their groceries.

Prodisee Pantry volunteers worked together like a well-oiled machine; providing food, nutritional education and other services to the people of Baldwin County. We were impressed with the level of commitment of the volunteers and the sheer number of clients served in the short time we were on site.

To learn more about The Community Foundation of South Alabama visit us online!

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