Mills County Storehouse Expanding Food Pantry

A major expansion is planned for the Mills County Storehouse Food Pantry in Glenwood.

An addition on the west and southwest corner of the Storehouse building will provide an additional 1,000 square feet of storage space and enhance the food pantry’s ability to assist a growing number of Mills County families in need, spokesperson Barbara Kaiman said.

“We continue to see an increase of families in need,” Kaiman said. “With two of our busiest months of the year remaining, we’ve already assisted almost as many families as we did all of last year.”

In 2013, 602 food orders at the pantry helped feed 1,493 people. Through the first 10 months of 2014, 589 food orders for 1,472 people were processed.

Families in need may receive one food basket per month from the pantry. The basket includes a variety of canned, boxed  and frozen foods along with household and personal hygiene items.

“Our goal is not to provide all of their food, but certainly to help them out,” Kaiman said.

One of the most-anticipated features of the expanded food pantry will be a 10-foot by 20-foot walk-in cooler and freezer for the storage of refrigerated and frozen items, like hamburger, turkeys and other donated meats.

“Last year, we had frozen turkeys farmed out at seven different locations,” Kaiman said.

The majority of funding for the food pantry comes from private donations and the sale of donated items at the Mills County Storehouse retail store.

The Mills County Storehouse has been at its current location at 405 Nuckolls St. for more than eight years.

“We have been blessed with overwhelming community support,” Kaiman said.

Kaiman said the expansion project will carry a price tag of more than $100,000 and will be completed by next spring.