Food pantry offers free food
Next to the stage behind the Flomaton Library there is now a Blessing Box, which contains non-perishable food items available to anyone who needs them and free to all.
Ricky Hart, pastor at Vision Church on Highway 31 and his wife Stephanie, were in search of a project that would impact more than just their church and its members. That's when she discovered a great idea.
"I just wanted to do something for our community," said Stephanie. "I searched for ideas on Pinterest and found the food box and thought it was a great idea, something that not just someone in our church could do, but the whole church. They could bring food and stock it, it was something that would benefit the whole community."
Hart said she knew a skilled woodworker and builder, David Carter, who had the means to build the box so she approached him and his wife about the project.
"We have church member who has a wood working business on the side, Carter House Woodworks, so I knew they could build it, and they took the ball and ran with it." said Hart. "David found the plans and built the box. When it was completed, he and Ricky installed it downtown."
Hart said Carter and his wife Tara did everything.
"Tara put the vinyl letters on the front, and then painted it," said Hart. "They did everything. They installed the Plexiglass front to protect the contents and still be safe."
Hart said she, her husband and the Carters have been really amazed at the positive response to the box.
"I made a Facebook post, which has gotten thousands of responses, including comments about how neat it was in our community," she said. "It would be great if any church or community organization could do this. Anybody could do it. We'd love to see that happen. That would be great."
Hart said she initially put a box in the lobby at the church and asked for donations to stock the box initially, so parishioners brought canned and non-perishable foods.
"When it needs to be restocked, we will ask for more donations," said Hart.
Hart said she is always looking for ideas that will fit not just the church members involved, but the whole community.
"We were glad we're able to do it and glad to see such a positive response from it," said Hart.
Members of the community are free to come get food from the box.
