MOUNT GILEAD — The Kroger store in Mount Gilead assisted the Morrow County Food Pantry in giving 100 hams to families of Morrow County in December and January.
Food Pantry Director Brenda Harden said that donations from several community groups and individuals made it possible to purchase the hams at a reduced price from the Mount Gilead Kroger store. She added that they were really good quality hams.
Kroger’s meat department staff also helped with the distribution of the hams as food pantry recipients brought in their vouchers for a ham
Harden said Kroger also continues to help the Food Pantry with their round-up program.
Food Pantry Director Teresa Shipman said that Kroger customers can “round up” several cents when they pay for their own groceries. All the money from those round ups at the Mount Gilead Kroger store goes to the six food pantries in the county. Last year the amount of round-ups totaled about $10,000.
Some of the other groceries mentioned that are provided at the pantry on a regular basis are: canned chicken, tuna, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, tomato juice, canned and dried milk, cereal and eggs.
Fresh produce is kept in the refrigerator at the pantry. Harden said that Jean Smith from the Cardington Food Pantry brings the produce from the Mid-Ohio Food Bank in Columbus.
“The six food pantries in the county all cooperate in sharing when we can,” said Harden.
Other food pantries in the county that serve families include: Cardington Community, Edison, Iberia, Marengo and Mount Gilead Trinity.