Westport, IN – On Saturday, September 20th, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the grand opening of the new Westport Community Food Pantry, located at its new facility on the south side of Mulberry Street across from the Westport Christian Church. This new space, significantly larger and more efficient than its previous location in the basement of Westport Christian Church, is poised to meet the growing needs of the community.
While still operating out of the church basement, the food pantry had a remarkable impact in 2024, distributing over 110,000 pounds of food. That equates to over 91,000,000 meals. According to Scott Henderson, Associate Pastor at Westport Christian Church, the newly designed facility is expected to triple the pantry’s capacity, allowing them to serve even more individuals and families in need.
“We’ve seen an increasing demand for food assistance over the years, and this new space will allow us to serve more people efficiently,” said Henderson. “With the new setup, we’ll be able to better serve our community, and we are confident that we can meet the growing need.”
In addition to the expanded facility, the pantry has also updated its hours of operation. Those in need of food assistance are encouraged to visit during the following hours: Mondays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This change is designed to make the pantry more accessible to a wider range of individuals and families.
A highlight of the open house was the unveiling of a refrigerated van, which was generously provided through a grant from Gleaners. This van, one of only two granted in Indiana this year, will allow for safer transport of perishable food, particularly during the heat of the summer.
“We’re thrilled to have this van,” said Pastor George Willette. “It represents the continued growth of our mission and our commitment to ensuring that no one in our community has to go hungry.” Henderson mentioned earlier in the day that the old van had over 400 thousand miles on it and only two doors that opened.
The facility is already completely paid for with carefully stewarded donations from Westport Christian Church. In addition to the Gleaners grant, the pantry has received grants from the Decatur County Community Foundation. These funds helped install walk-in coolers in both the old and new locations, as well as providing new signage that makes the pantry easier to find and shows the hours of operation. Henderson also thanked the Purdue Extension fund that shared food through their “Fill the Trailer”
campaign at the county fair.
Local grocery store owner Nate Sander was also praised for his help in supporting the pantry by helping Purdue Extension order food at a lower cost to utilize monetary donations.. A dedicated team of volunteers picks up food donations four times a week from local grocery stores, and additional food is obtained through the Gleaners network.
Pastor George Willette shared some touching stories during the event about the nearly 25-year history of the food pantry and how it has grown from humble beginnings into a vital resource for the community. About 60 community members attended the celebration, and volunteers from Westport Christian Church provided food and drinks during the event.
The Westport Community Food Pantry is committed to its mission of ensuring that no one in the community goes hungry. The new facility is just the latest step in a journey that continues to provide much-needed support to those facing food insecurity. As the sign says: Alone we can do little but together we can do a lot.
For more information
Contact:
Scott Henderson
Associate Pastor, Westport Christian Church
812-662-4446
scotttheport@gmail.com
