After more than a decade of collecting and distributing food to
locals in need from a warehouse at the Hollister Municipal Airport,
the Community Pantry finds itself in need of a new home.
Hollister – After more than a decade of collecting and distributing food to locals in need from a warehouse at the Hollister Municipal Airport, the Community Pantry finds itself in need of a new home.
For about 15 years, the city has let the pantry use the warehouse at the airport rent free as a collection and distribution hub. The city’s plans to demolish the building this summer – Federal Aviation Administration grants prohibit non- aviation operations at the airport – has the pantry asking the community for help finding a new location before it has to leave the airport in August.
“A real angel is needed to fly in and provide us with a warehouse at reasonable or no rent,” said Maryanne Hughes, the pantry’s director.
The pantry is hoping to find a suitable location in downtown Hollister, but hasn’t had any luck yet, according to Hughes. She said the ideal arrangement would be a place with an affordable lease that the nonprofit group could eventually buy. Building a new facility is also a possibility, she said. But with only $15,000 in its building fund, the pantry would need help, Hughes said.
Even as the impending loss of its warehouse looms, the Community Pantry is sticking to its primary task of collecting and distributing food to locals in need. Since 1989, the organization has worked with Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties to provide food to thousands of families – often making the difference between someone eating one day or going hungry. Each week, 850 people receive food from the pantry.
Last year those organizations’ holiday food collection efforts brought in nearly 42,000 pounds of food. This year only 24,000 pounds have been collected. Donations of canned food are currently being accepted at locations throughout the county.
“As all of the food collected in San Benito County goes to area residents, we are hoping folks will donate generously during the holidays to help feed their hungry neighbors,” said Christine Woodward, food drive manger for Second Harvest.
Hughes said she is hopeful that the ongoing food drive will yield more donations.
“We’re still in the process,” she said. “We just need to remind people we really need it.”
Anyone with a possible new location for the pantry is asked to call the organization at 637-0340.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
