The Barbour County Family Support Center conducted a major fresh food distribution out of its home in the Belington Golden Rule on Jan. 26.

Center Director Cathy Coontz-Griffith and her staff of Janice White, Megan Reed and Liz Phares, have been instrumental in providing food distribution and other services to Barbour County families during the past two years.

On Jan. 26, the Center received a truckload of 11,000 pounds of fresh food, including cabbage, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots. The staff distributed the food to more than 200 families.

Officials said the produce will be available any time the Family Support Center is open until it is gone. The food pantry hours are 11-7 p.m. at the Golden Rule on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and at the Junior Community Center on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Barbour County Family Support Center Director Cathy Coontz-Griffith said she is excited to bring services to the Belington area and to serve Barbour County residents.

Please call the family support center at 304-606-8087 with any questions.

This community service was supported by more than 27 volunteers who helped unload the delivery truck, and package and distribute the vegetables. The Barbour County Family Support Center would like to thank the West Virginia State Police, the Barbour County Sheriff Department, the Belington Police Department, the Barbour County Office of Emergency Medicine, and the Junior Police Department for their help, as well as the many community members and individuals from the WV Ascend program.

The Golden Rule Building began as a wholesale grocery built by the Shinn family in 1902. Officials said that, “as the heavy loads of produce came in through the old loading dock and the community showed up to work together, all present could feel the generous and giving spirit of the Shinn Family return to fill the well-used space with warmth and possibility.”

The Barbour County Family Support Center is located at 122 S. Crim Ave. in Belington. For more information, call 304-657-3938 or 304-606-8087.