Community Relief Fund opens new food pantry in Glasgow
GLASGOW, Ky. — The Community Relief Fund is expanding its ability to help families facing food insecurity with a new, larger location in Glasgow.
The organization celebrated the new facility Wednesday, Aug. 26, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at 306 YMCA Way. A community cookout followed the ceremony.
The building was purchased by Dr. Bharat Mody and his wife and donated to the T.J. Community Mission Foundation, which absorbed the Community Relief Fund a little more than a year ago.
The additional space will allow the organization’s food pantry to nearly double in size, according to Stacy Janes, program coordinator for the Community Relief Fund.
“It means to double the size of our food pantry,” Janes said. “We’re going to be able to serve more and hopefully change the time frame that we’re able to help and help more often as well.”
The new facility has additional freezers and coolers, giving the pantry more capacity to store fresh and frozen foods, including proteins.
Janes said the pantry serves any Barren County resident in need of assistance. In addition to food, the organization helps with rent, mortgage payments and utilities, including electric and water assistance.
The organization also operates programs throughout the year, including a back-to-school program and its annual Toys for Tots program.
Janes said the need for food assistance remains significant in the community. She said one in four children in Barren County is at risk of food insecurity.
“We want to make sure that nobody’s going to bed hungry,” Janes said. “Everybody has what they need.”
The larger facility also gives the organization room to expand its services beyond traditional food assistance.
Janes said the organization has added additional freezers and coolers and is working on a Community Essentials program. Some donated items may also be distributed to other organizations in the community to help them serve people in need.
Former Community Relief Fund President Larry Glass, who served as president for more than 13 years, said the organization’s work has had a lasting impact on families throughout the community.
Glass recalled a single mother who came through the organization’s Toys for Tots program and told him she would not have been able to provide Christmas for her children without the assistance.
“She said, because of you guys, my kids are going to have a Christmas because I could not have provided Christmas to my children this year,” Glass said.
Glass said the organization has been focused on identifying the greatest needs in the community and responding to them.
The Community Relief Fund dates back to 1988, when local ministers, businesses and government leaders came together to address a need for assistance in the community.
Glass credited Mody and his wife for helping make the new facility possible.
The organization is also encouraging community members to support the pantry through donations and volunteer work.
Janes said volunteers and donations are essential to keeping the pantry operating and getting food to the people who need it.
The organization’s next To the Brim food drive is scheduled for Sept. 2-5. Volunteers will collect donations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at South Gate Houchens, and Walmart locations, as well as Ruler Foods.
For more information about the Community Relief Fund and its programs, community members can visit the organization’s new location at 306 YMCA Way in Glasgow.
