$130K grant to help relocate food pantry in Thomas
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THOMAS -- The Blackwater Ministerial Association (BMA) has received more than $130,000 from a Directed Congressional Spending Grant to support construction of its new permanent food pantry location in Thomas.
Facilitated by former Senator Joe Manchin after he was contacted by the pantry, the grant, which gives the non-profit organization $132,000, had a $84,390 match requirement that necessitated a successful local fundraising effort for the organization.
"I am pleased to announce the completion of the fundraising drive for the construction of our new facility," Tom Kucer, BMA President, said in a release. "This milestone has been achieved thanks to the unwavering support and generosity of our donors, partners and community members."
The BMA Food Pantry program has addressed the food insecurity needs of the mountaintop communities of Tucker County, and the surrounding Harman area of Randolph County, since it was first organized in 1979 by the Thomas Presbyterian Church.
In 2024, the program reports serving an average of 81 households per month. The pantry's all volunteer staff manages the purchase, storage and monthly distribution of close to 6,000 lbs. of food. Kucer said the monetary value of volunteer hours is almost $54,000 annually.
In 2023, the pantry delivered some 60,000+ pounds of food and is currently on track to exceed that amount of food this year, Kucer said. The pantry also provides additional food support with the Thanksgiving Community Dinner and the delivery of Christmas food boxes.
In addition to providing food, the pantry is sometimes able to provide emergency temporary funds to address the needs of individuals and families. This includes providing funds for the payment of utility bills, simple home repairs, funds to assist in temporary motel housing and assisting with purchasing gasoline for a vehicle in order to get to work or school.
Kucer said that, following the flood of 1985, the services of the food pantry were expanded. From 2011 through 2022, the food pantry operated out of a donated space in a building on the main street of Davis. However, that would not last.
"They were putting the building up for sale and we had to move," Kucer told The Inter-Mountain. "We looked all over the place to land and we couldn't find any suitable buildings, and of course, it's very hard to find a place to build. Just didn't work out for us."
The food pantry temporarily relocated to St. John's Lutheran Church; however, Kucer said, while the use of the church basement enables the food pantry to continue providing much-needed support to the community, the space is "extremely crowded and unsatisfactory."
The BMA Food Pantry's new, permanent location will be at 374 Quail Ridge Rd in Thomas. Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed by this summer, and operations will move into the new facility as soon as it is ready.
"While we celebrate these accomplishments, we acknowledge that donor support for ongoing operations is essential to further our mission of providing food and other community services to those in need," Kucer said in the release. "Together, we can make a lasting difference in our community."
To learn more about the Blackwater Ministerial Association Food Pantry program, visit blackwaterministerial.org or the Blackwater Ministerial Association Facebook page.
For more information, contact BMA at blackwaterministerial@gmail.com or call 304-259-5635.