The monthly Trinity Neighborhood Center Food Pantry is coming up to help families experiencing food disparity.
On the third Thursday of every month, the Trinity Neighborhood Center opens its doors to the community to help those suffering food insecurity. The food pantry will next return from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the Trinity Neighborhood Center, 10 West Bidwell, Battle Creek.
The event is free and open to the public; anyone needing food assistance can attend.
Trinity Neighborhood Center hosts various events, including the food pantry that started small but has since grown to better accommodate the need for food assistance in the area. The food that they distribute comes from various sources – including the South Michigan Food Bank and Sprout BC – and is donated from those who are willing.
Event coordinator Johanna Durrett said that donations and volunteer work are what allow them to help the community.
“Since we are averaging about 50 households for each event, there is a great need for food assistance in our neighborhood,” Durrett said. “As our donations increase and our volunteer base increases, we will be able to increase the frequency of our pantry days.”
The majority of the food that Trinity Neighborhood Center receives is from the South Michigan Food Bank. Sol Powers, a former volunteer with the South Michigan Food Bank, notes how important the volunteer work done by her and others is for the community.
“After volunteering at the food bank, I learned about the importance of their mission and how much our work affected the people of South Michigan. I got to meet a few people who work at the distribution events, and their testimonies were wonderful to hear. It was impactful and made me realize how real food insecurity is,” Powers said.
Food insecurity is not uncommon in our community, so with the help of this food pantry, more families are gaining access to food. As the Trinity Neighborhood Center receives more help and donations, fewer families will have to go without food.
More information about the food pantry and volunteer opportunities can be found at the Trinity Neighborhood Center’s website, tcdibc.org, or you can call 269-962-4900.
