The Food Pantry on East Broad in Smithville fed 20,484 people in 2013. That equals 6461 families, 7551 children (37 percent of the total for the month), 4306 senior citizens (21 percent of the month’s total), in addition to that they operated two mobile pantries, which served an additional 2854 people, or 794 families, and the numbers keep growing. More than 500 people were assisted in the month of January.
"Three years ago we fed about 12,000 people all year,” said volunteer Pat Zornow. “It went to 19,000 the next year, and last year it was almost 21,000. That's in addition to the daily pantry at Christmas, when we helped 244 children. We had presents for them, and we got donations throughout the community. MAPCO donated 10 bicycles, Tenneco gave us vouchers for turkeys, and at Christmas time they bring in food they've been collecting for us, in addition to all kinds of presents for the children. Other businesses that help out are Sundance Restaraunt, DeKalb  Community Bank and Dekalb Community Hospital. They do fundraisers and collect food. Many people in the community are helping collect food. The mail carriers do a drive, and many individuals help out,” she shared.
“We also work with the school backpack program, and we work with the Catholic Church (St. Gregory’s), because Meals on Wheels does not provide food for them over the holidays. We help them out with hams and food and whatever we can. Also Mount Zion Baptist and Blue Springs Baptist both offer volunteers and donations.”
She said more help is always needed.
“We always need manpower and money. We're getting people from Smith County, Wilson County, White County and Putnam County - getting them from all the surrounding counties. We don't accept any federal or state money, so we can feed anybody we want, and we do we have them coming in from all over. Everything we have here is donated. Everyone's a volunteer. Nobody gets paid. We have to pay for the food, and the truck we got today cost $2913.54, and another $154 for delivery. We're doing that every other month. All this money comes from donations. We spent about $18,000 last year just on food. Four of us pay the rent for the building out of our pockets because we don't want to take it out of the food donations,” she said.
“The Catholic Church also works with us on blankets as well,” she continued. “We have a lot of homeless people who need blankets and warm hats, gloves and socks. These are things that the homeless need badly during the winter months. When it's really cold we worry, and we try to help them anyway we can,” she shared.
“ We also need freezers,” she added. Anyone who wants to donate a freezer or refrigerator, we are always in need we have freezers and refrigerators go out all the time.”
Nancy Palamara, another volunteer at the pantry, said one of the big attractions for her was the fact that the money contributed goes directly to feed needy people,  and not a cent goes to administrative costs. “Every cent we get goes for food or to help someone.” Palamara said. “Everyone's a volunteer. Nobody gets paid. Nobody gets fired either.”
Donna Gibson, another volunteer,  said she and her husband helped out at the pantry while vacationing in DeKalb County before moving here.
“We moved down here a couple years ago, but we used to help out when we were down on vacation,” Gibson said. It's a rewarding experience. It's one of those things where you know you're helping. It's not something that you do and never see the results. You see the results. It's immediate.”
Anyone wishing to volunteer may contact First United Methodist Church at 597-4961 and ask for Becky Roberts.