Keyport Food Ministerium to relocate after 28 years

The Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry will move to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 10 E. Front St., Keyport, on or about Feb. 1. It has been located in the Calvary United Church since its establishment in 1983.

The pantry has been providing food to the needy in the northern bayshore area since that date. By 1992, 20 families were being helped. Today, the pantry is providing food, clothing and miscellaneous items to 98-100 families a month. Half the food given is provided by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture through the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean counties. The rest is provided by the donations in food and/or money received from the original nine churches that make up the ministerium, civic organizations, businesses and individuals.

The people who come to the pantry are those truly in need. They are screened by the staff (all volunteers) and are asked for documentation to assure all are qualified. They must be residents who are unemployed or are already on welfare programs, such as the Food Stamp program, Supplemental Security Income, the Women, Infant and Children program, on Medicaid or are low-income workers (such as a family of three who makes less than $23,292 a year). The needy are recertified every six months to assure continuing need.

The Ministerium Food Pantry wants to publicly thank the United Methodist Church for its generosity and support over the years.

O. John Reed

Director

Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry