Food pantry needs donations

Back in June, the Taylorsville food pantry went under construction for expansion. The project added space, mainly used for emergency preparedness by the city. Along with that space, a larger donation storage area was designed. But those donations aren’t coming in. and the shelves are sitting empty.

                The food pantry has noticed an astonishing drop in donations this year compared to last year, and Keith Barlow, the pantry manager, has been looking for ways to keep the doors open to help those who need it.

“There’s money that I’ve been holding off using, hoping donations would come in, and I’m having to use it now to purchase things that will cover me for only a couple of days. But that will run out, and unless we get donations, we’ll have to close until we’re stocked again,” Barlow said.

The pantry is equipped to hold non-perishable items and frozen items. Though donations of frozen goods are wanted, it’s the non-perishable canned goods the pantry desperately needs.

“Families that come in here have, on average, about four and a half people in the family. We’ve had to decrease the cans we give them, so now we’re down to giving about one can for every two people. If we don’t get more in, we’ll have to decrease it even more, but eventually we’ll run out,” Barlow said.

The pantry is open three days a week, Monday from 1 to 3 p.m.,, Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m.,  and Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon. On average, approximately 120 families will be served within that time frame. Nobody who comes to the pantry is turned away, and when the food pantry doesn’t receive the donations it needs, it has to close until more food comes in. Barlow said the pantry has already had to close a couple of times this year.

Donations come in from the area through churches, Scout troops, and occasionally elementary schools. They also receive a limited number of items from the main food pantry in Salt Lake; not nearly what would cover the amount the Taylorsville pantry actually needs. As a result, the pantry heavily relies on donations from people in the area to continue operating.

Barlow says the items given from the main pantry are helpful but are depleted quickly. “What they give me, it helps a lot. But it’ll be gone within two days,” he said.

Donations can be dropped off directly at the Taylorsville food pantry during its working hours. It’s located at 4775 South Plymouth View Dr., just behind the Taylorsville Senior Center. All donations are welcome, but the pantry is most in need of canned goods like soups, canned vegetables and chili.