by Rachel Hunter
Grace Food Pantry Founder and Christian Life Fellowship Pastor Robert LaVeck has announced the physical re-opening for the Grace Food Pantry will be on Thursday, June 25.
The Grace Food Pantry has been in operation since 1999 in the basement of the Christian Life Fellowship Church, 52 Church St., Gouverneur, under the direction of Pastor Robert LaVeck. For the past 21 years, the mission of the Grace Food Pantry has always been about more than just food – providing for the physical needs and spiritual concerns of the North Country community as well. It closed for a couple weeks at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, and then began serving the North Country community on an appointment-only basis. Now, the Grace Food Pantry is look forward to re-opening its doors to the North Country community.
In order to guarantee personal distancing space in the Grace Food Pantry, a volunteer will sit outside the food pantry doors to regulate foot-traffic flow. Pastor LaVeck told the Gouverneur Tribune Press this week: “In Grace Food Pantry, masks will be worn and personal distances will be regulated,” Pastor LaVeck said. “There are hand sanitation stations every six feet.” He said there are about 15 volunteers that are eager to serve North Country residents, and that social distancing between the volunteers will not be an issue due to the tables inside the Grace Food Pantry.
Pastor LaVeck also told the Gouverneur Tribune Press that there is plenty of food and baby products available. Due to weekly supply trips to receive donations from the United Way in Watertown, Pastor LaVeck said there is plenty of baby food, diapers, wet wipes, and more for local families in need.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the Grace Food Pantry was meeting the needs of anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 people each month. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic crisis Pastor LaVeck said that the Grace Food Pantry has received several generous contributions from local businesses, nonprofit agencies, and community members to assist in their mission. But help is still needed. For more information on how to donate, call Pastor LaVeck at (315) 287-7656.
Sunday Morning Worship services at 10:30 a.m. have physically re-opened at Christian Life Fellowship Church. In accordance with the 25 percent capacity ruling from NYS Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last on Saturday, Pastor LaVeck said that up to 30 people could attend. He also told the Gouverneur Tribune Press that the church’s services on Facebook were receiving 40-60 views per week, and that he would continue posting them on a weekly basis. He added that the re-opening of the church was done in a careful manner, and that everyone in attendance will continue to wear face masks and will be seated six feet apart. Hand sanitizer in spray bottles will be made available to everyone in attendance.
For more information, call (315) 287-7656.