The Great Falls Salvation Army Family Services has recently opened a new Client Choice Food Pantry. The pantry is located at 527 9th Ave. South and is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 3 pm.
The Salvation Army Family Services has been providing food assistance for several years. However, until recently, they only distributed standardized food boxes to clients. Now, with the introduction of the Client Choice Food Pantry, clients have the opportunity to select the items they need. The only requirements are that clients provide a picture ID, show proof of residency, and confirm the number of people in their family.
“They come in, get a cart, and they can shop,” explained Teresa Hill, Director. “It’s just like a little mini grocery store. We’ve got the shelves that they can pick the items that they wish to choose.”
The pantry carries several non-perishable items as well as meat, milk, eggs, butter, bread, and even fresh fruits.
Sam’s Club and Walmart donate several items each day that must be stocked on the shelves. Some of the items need to be repackaged such as the 50 lb. bags of flour and sugar. Volunteers repackage these items and stock the shelves each day. Anyone can volunteer to help out, anyone under age 14 can help out as well as long as they are with a parent. Volunteers arrive as early as 8 am.
The Salvation Army Family Services served 976 families in May. Clients can go in once every 30 days, however, if someone needs something a little more often, these amazing people will do what they can to help everyone out.
“We’re not income-based like most other places in town,” explained Teresa. “We don’t discriminate against anyone. Anyone that comes here can get food, and that’s what we want to try and let the Community know.”
The Client Choice Food Pantry also has motel packages which include items that can be prepared in a microwave. They also have packages for the homeless which require no cooking and can be picked up each week.
The Salvation Army Family Services also has a table of free items available that have been donated.
For more information on how to pick up items or volunteer to help, please contact Teresa Hill at (406) 761-5660, or stop by and let them know you found them in The Great Falls Gazette.
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
