A nonprofit in Monroe County’s West End helps hundreds of local families each month. But a now a huge repair bill has them calling out for the community’s support to ensure their mission continues.
Volunteer Carey Krum is busy organizing today at the West End Food Pantry. The nonprofit located inside the Eldred Township Community Center in Kunkletown just held one of its two monthly distributions this past Saturday.
Krum says, "Probably about 30,000 pounds of food in three hours, which means we have a lot of volunteers that work very hard."
He tells us their walk-in freezer was filled from the floor to the ceiling and now the meat and other dietary essentials are basically gone.
Krum says, "It would be tragic to not have that food available for them."
A month ago that almost was the case for the over 400 families that depend on this drive-through pantry.
West End Food Pantry Web Master Marissa Strohlein says, "Walk-in freezer kicked the bucket, it’s been around a long time but unfortunately it costs $14,000 or $15,000."
The pantry immediately got it fixed so that there was no interruption to their clients but now they’re left with the bill.
Strohlein says, "Our entire yearly budget for feeding the 11 hundred some people that come through every two weeks is $25,000 so this is an enormous expense and we’re really looking for the community’s help."
You’re asked to donate on a GoFundMe page which is posted on the West End Food Pantry’s website. So far they’ve raised only 35 hundred dollars. If you can’t help financially—you’re asked to spread the word by sharing the page on social media.
