On Tuesday, June 14th, the Fayette Community Foundation (FCF) administered a $5,000 designated grant to a local nonprofit, AMEN Food Pantry. With prices increasing everywhere, this Donor Advised Grant was designated to AMEN Food Pantry to assist local community members to alleviate some of the burdens of food insecurity.
Since the early 1990s, AMEN Food Pantry has been providing food assistance for families in the Fayette County area. This organization is managed by no paid staff, but instead run by wonderful volunteers from 13 local churches. Within the last year, AMEN has served 2,631 households, equating to 6,939 individuals.
Board Treasurer, Garry Schellberg, noted an increase in need over the last month, “With inflation and school getting out we {AMEN} were doing about 60 families every Monday … on the first Monday of June we did about 117 families.” The leadership of the organization predicts this trend will continue throughout the summer and into the remainder of the year.
Every Monday, about 10-12 volunteers are required to assist local families pick up their allotted amount of food assistance, twice a month. Community members in need can arrive at AMEN, located at 851 S Reynolds St, La Grange, TX 78945, to receive services from 9 a.m to 11:45 a.m.. If an individual or family is new, they are asked to complete the simple intake form and interview before selecting their food. Along with food assistance, AMEN provides food vouchers to HEB once a month and to Second Chance Emporium for clothing, which can only be used every four months.
The majority of AMEN’s food stock comes from the Central Texas Food Bank, individual donations, local businesses, and local churches. A major supplier of the pantry stock comes from the local HEBand Walmart, who donates frozen meat, bread, dairy, canned goods, and pastries every week. Food donations are always welcomed, the two favorites right now are canned pineapple and canned SPAM. AMEN does not accept canned goods made from your home.
While donations of food products help tremendously, Fayette County members can assist AMEN Food Pantry in many other ways, mainly in monetary donations and volunteerism. Fiscal donations, such as the grant administered by FCF, assist in purchasing of food from the Central Texas Food Bank, which are sold to the organization for pennies on the dollar. Monetary donations also assist in the cost of insurance, janitorial staff, and other overhead.
More than anything else, the leadership of AMEN would like the community to know that volunteers are the biggest need. The major bulk of need for more volunteers falls on Mondays, but AMEN is actively looking for volunteers who can help pick up food donations from HEB and Walmart every week. Please contact your local church or call (979) 968-3943 if you would like to assist this local nonprofit during an increased time for their services.
About Fayette Community Foundation
For over twenty years, FCF has facilitated the local philanthropy of generous individuals and caring organizations to protect and enhance the community in which we live, work, play and pray. FCF works with generous community members year-round to offer several types of funds that directly support charitable nonprofit organizations serving an 80-mile radius from La Grange, TX. Donors wishing to establish a Donor Advised Fund or Designated Fund ensure direct gifts are administered to a specific agency or purpose of their choosing.
To learn more about ways Fayette Community Foundation can assist with your philanthropic goals, please contact: susannah@faycofoundation.com, check out faycofoundation.com, or connect with the Foundation via Facebook.
