Charity and love prevail at Keyport food pantry Ministerium helps families, seniors in northern Bayshore BY LORI ANNE OLIWA Correspondent LORI ANNE OLIWA Volunteers staff the Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry, which distributed gifts to 198 children this holiday season, in addition to providing families and seniors with food for holiday meals. KEYPORT - About 20 steps from the sidewalk at 10 E. Front St. and through two bright red doors that stand as sentries, the Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry (KMFP) is a friendly yet stalwart reminder of the difficulties many families face, particularly at this time of year. The pantry is a flurry of activity now, during the week leading up to Christmas. Every year at holiday time, the pantry increases its efforts to provide sustenance to those in need and will distribute food, blankets, coats and gifts to struggling families. Presiding over and guiding the enthusiastic pandemonium is Isaiah G. Cooper, KMFP executive director, who proudly proclaims that the volunteers are the actual heart and soul of the mission. "There is no one-man show here," Cooper exclaimed, "and our oldest volunteer is 92 years old." Staffed completely by volunteers, this 24-year-old community service organization provides temporary and ongoing assistance in the form of food and other essentials to low-income families and senior citizens in the northern Bayshore area of the county, which includes Keyport, Union Beach, Matawan, Marlboro, Port Monmouth, Hazlet, Cliffwood Beach,West Keansburg, Aberdeen and Cliffwood. KMFP is a member of the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and receives donations of food and/or money from its member churches and other churches, civic groups, businesses, schools, Boy Scouts, U.S. Postal Service and individual donors. The pantry operates out of two nondescript but cozy rooms at Saint Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church in Keyport, one of the nine churches that make up the ministerium, and according to Cooper, is quickly outgrowing the space. "More and more people are in need, and there is a greater demand for our services each year," he said. Cooper confirmed that five other food pantries in the area had to close, and he cited that as a reason for the increase in requests for assistance. Marjorie Conway, KMFP's associate director, said the food pantry distributed gifts to 198 children on Dec. 20. A quick survey of the parsonage the day before showed bags brimming with gifts, waiting for the eager hands of children. Dozens of packages filled with turkeys and all the trimmings stood ready to provide complete holiday meals. "We want to give people the best, not the worst," Cooper emphasized, adding that the pantry provided 50 turkeys for Thanksgiving. At present, the organization assists close to 1,000 families and has embarked on a fundraising mission for construction of a new facility on Atlantic Street in the borough. Cooper explained that discussions have been ongoing with the Keyport Board of Education, which would lease the 1-acre property to KMFP for 99 years at $1 per year. "They would always own the land," he said. Habitat for Humanity would also provide volunteers to construct the facility, according to Cooper. "There is $53,285 in the building fund so far. That is progress, as we started out with nothing," Cooper said. He added that the new facility would in turn provide stability to the organization. "Sometimes we cannot breathe in here," Cooper joked. Always deliberate and passionate in his calling, Cooper explained that there are rules that govern the way services are administered. "Help goes to the needy, not the greedy," he said, "and there is a process involved." That process involves screening by the KMFP staff, which helps to locate services for those in need and provides information on veterans affairs, elder care, food stamps, unemployment and more. The Web site notes that regardless of their situations, clients are "treated with courtesy and respect. When they walk through our doors, they are greeted with a reassuring smile, which makes them feel welcome, know that they are not alone and that we are here to help." Cooper stressed that every donation must be accounted for in numerous monthly reports. "It seems there is more and more that has to be done," he stated. While his advocacy is always motivated by a "greater vision," Cooper unequivocally demands cooperation from his clients in some not-sosubtle ways. "I am impressed with those who step up to the plate, and I have no use for people who try to evade their responsibilities to their family," he stated. Cooper cited several clients who are mothers raising several children. "They need to make a million decisions each day," he said, "and they do not always have the help they deserve." Cooper said that he always wants to help people first, but often has to shock them into reality. He has been overheard telling many a client, "Your thinking is stinking, and that's why your business is sinking." Cooper feels strongly that for his brand of help to succeed, it must be tempered with education, "So ultimately people can be self-sufficient and not need us anymore," he explained. Contemplating the future, Cooper expressed optimism as well as a desire to expand the organization. "Despite the ever-present challenge involved with obtaining grants, there are many organizations running fundraisers for us," he said. Cooper also said that he wants to find a way to accept furniture donations. "We have no facilities to store the furniture in, and many clients would have no means to accept it," he said. Always the cheerleader, Cooper said jovially, "I am working on that." Commenting on his continuing role as visionary, motivator, leader and listener, Cooper stated that a good director has one job and one job only - to find as many "stars" as possible. "Then get out of their way, let them do their jobs and see the positive results," he said. "The smiles on my clients' faces say it all and mean everything to me." The Keyport Ministerium Food Pantry can be reached at (732) 888-1986. Hours of operation are every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Complete information on the organization and its services, as well as a secure area to donate, can be found on the Web site www.keyportfoodpantry.org.