Markle’s Master’s Pantry serves the needy despite experiencing financial difficulty
By JONATHAN SNYDER
Master’s Pantry has served people for 25 years, originally starting in the downtown area of Markle.
They serve boxes of food containing three to four meals to families in need, about $50 per box. These boxes contain a multitude of food items, including pasta, canned goods, peanut butter, cereal and other easy to cook items. Other items, such as diapers, health and beauty products are also included if they have them available. During the holiday season, Sheri James, who helped start the pantry, will also try to include a small turkey or ham, to make that holiday meal special.
“She (Sheri) tries to put three or four meals together, so there’s a plan in the box, not just food from here, there and everywhere,” volunteer Mark Wolf said. “And she tries to buy similar products in combined quantities … There is a purpose in the packing of the box. It’s not just putting cans and jars in boxes.”
The pantry currently runs solely off of donations from the public. Multiple churches in the area donate, with many people creating extra blessing boxes during the holiday season. The simplicity of the meals allows people who may not have proper cooking equipment to still be able to prepare a hot dish.
“A lot of these people, they only got a microwave,” volunteer Rich Shafer said. “So, we’re really dealing with a couple different scenarios.”
The pantry prides itself on being able to help anybody who steps through their door. From a teenage couple who found themselves on their own sooner than expected, to the single mother with five children, no one is exempt from getting the help they need.
“We do not have requirements that they have to meet,” volunteer Kathie Mower said. “We don’t turn anyone away. New people will come, and we just try to make them feel very welcome and require the least amount of information, just asking for a name, address and a phone number.”
Despite the donations and support from the community, the pantry is experiencing financial difficulties. James, along with her husband Brian, stated that a complete food purchase that feeds the approximately 75 to 85 families visiting every month, costs approximately $3,000 to $5,000 every month.
Volunteers at the pantry appeared before Markle’s Town Council on Aug. 29, stating that the pantry is currently at an approximate $1,500 deficit per month. The council spent $6,000 out of its rainy day fund to help keep the pantry afloat until the end of the year. Pantry volunteers will also reach out to local businesses for any monetary donations, to provide long-term stability.
The pantry’s work has already inspired others to help out. Tony Staph, a volunteer, lived above the pantry’s location when it was in downtown Markle in both the pantry’s and his early years. Staph’s mother would take a box as needed when times got tough. Even with Staph’s past experience, he still sees the needs of the community from his volunteer work.
“It just opened my eyes,” Staph said. “I never knew there was just so many people that were like, or less fortunate than I was. Seeing how many cars we would get every month, it just opened my eyes … there are obviously a lot more people than me that are less fortunate out there, and it just makes me want to help them a little bit more.”
The pantry is holding a golf tournament fundraiser on Oct. 6 at Dogwood Glen Golf Course in Warren. The tournament costs $60 per player, which includes lunch, cart rental, snacks, soda and water. Donations can be made out to Master’s Pantry at PO Box 105 in Markle. Food, products and monetary donations are accepted by the pantry, with monetary donations allowing them more freedom to buy items in bulk.
“Anything that’s donated, we find a way to get it to the patrons,” James said. “Whether it’s to put a cart outside and let them choose from random individual items. We make sure that if something’s donated, we get it to someone that can use it.”
jonathan@news-banner.com
