Clay Helping Hands Food Pantry Closing At End Of Year

The Clay County Helping Hands Board of Directors has decided to close its food pantry effective December 31st.

Board Member Eric Copass said funding for the operation has dwindled and left the organization with a difficult decision to make.

“We tried to extend it as long as we could,” Copass said. “So, it’s been a tough decision, because we’ve made a lot of relationships in the community, and a lot of people rely on this. Without the money there, it’s hard.”

Copass said the original plan was to close the food pantry alongside the thrift store last year. But, Copass said COVID funding started coming down to food programs and delayed the pantry closure for another year. The thrift store did however close.

“What happened was that assistance is starting to dwindle down now,” Copass said. “So now, we’re back on schedule. The money we used to generate from the thrift store was used to purchase food for the community.”

Copass said with some 100 families regularly using the food pantry, Helping Hands will continue providing food boxes throughout the holidays.

‘We don’t want to stop just before the holidays,” Copass said. ‘We’re doing our best to stretch every dollar we get. We’re going to make this happen even if we have to spend some of our own personal money.”

Copass said the organization is thankful for John and Carol Carman and the volunteers who drove the operation. “What a difference they made in the community,” Copass said.