by Rachel Hunter
The Grace Food Pantry in Gouverneur opened its doors on Thursday, December 29 to a North Country community in need of sustenance.
A combination of expenses accrued over the holiday season and the rising costs of food, shelter, and more caused many to seek the resources at the Grace Food Pantry in Gouverneur last week. Many North Country families are struggling to put food on their tables, keep warm clothing on their backs, pay for medical supplies, while paying for costs of shelters, including the rising price of home heating fuel oil. These factors are driving more and more people to seek assistance – and the Grace Food Pantry is poised ready to help North Country residents in need.
The Grace Food Pantry is located in the Christian Life Fellowship Church, located at the corner of Church and John St., Gouverneur, and is open weekly on Thursdays from 9 to 11:45 a.m. There are no income limits. All North Country residents in need are welcome. The Grace Food Pantry has been in operation for decades in Gouverneur, thanks to the vision and director of Pastor Robert LaVeck. The mission of the Grace Food Pantry has always been about more than just food – but also providing for the physical needs and the North Country community as well.
North Country community members each month receive an allotment of protein, vegetables and fruit, cereal and other non-perishable food, as well as bread, dairy items, and more. But each week, residents are welcomed to come and get “gleaning items” which include bread, yogurt, and so much more. All North Country residents are warmly greeted at registration, and are given a piece of paper indicating how many people are in their household that they then present to volunteers at the Grace Food Pantry. The volunteers work diligently to fill their boxes with provisions at each station.
The Grace Food Pantry has received much assistance through the holiday season and beyond from local grocery stores, a food bank in Malone, as well as from other donors and grant funding. The Grace Food Pantry is going strong, and currently running a total of 25 freezers. Donations are always being accepted to help the Grace Food Pantry provide sustenance to North Country community members in need. Pastor LaVeck told the Gouverneur Tribune Press that the level of poverty throughout the North Country is the most he has seen in his 30 years in Gouverneur. And it is only through the support of dedicated volunteers, financial contributions, and the support of the food bank in Malone, foundations and charities, businesses in the local community and individuals that the Grace Food Pantry is able to meet needs every single week. The Grace Food Pantry and the Christian Life Fellowship Church recently utilized the services of Don Peck Auctioneer in Gouverneur and was able to raise over $1,700 to help those in need in Gouverneur. Much gratitude is extended to all those who support the mission of providing assistance to those in need throughout the North Country.
The Grace Food Pantry is seeing more and more people coming to the food pantry, and more volunteers and donations are needed now more than ever before. Even non-financial donations such as food, vehicles, boats property, and services (such as snowplowing, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, cleaning, and sidewalk shoveling). For more information or to learn how you can help the Grace Food Pantry, call Pastor Bob LaVeck at 315-287-7656.
The North Country community is reminded that the Grace Food Pantry is open is open in the basement of Christian Life Fellowship Church, 52 Church St., Gouverneur, weekly on Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. All are welcome.