“We are going to be able to continue helping.” Willow Community Food Pantry celebrates expansion

Last weekend, the Willow Community Food Pantry celebrated the new expansion to their facility with a dedication and open house.

“This is amazing. We are going to be able to continue helping the families that need us,” said Ola Williams, Director of the food pantry.

The food pantry, located at the Willow United Methodist Church, has been providing food to families in need from Willow and nearby Houston since 2007, serving only a handful of families at the time.

“With each crisis or major event, the need has grown. Since the McKinley Fire in 2019, and then COVID-19, the number of people coming to us is nearly 200 families and 400 individuals,” says Reverend Joe-d DowlingSoka, who, along with his wife Christina, are co-pastors at the church.

“In 2022, we served 27% of the Willow and Houston communities. That is amazing,” Reverend Joe-D said, complimenting the abilities of Williams and the volunteers, who stepped up during COVID.

“That really speaks to the need.”

The UME church partnered with the Church of Latter Day Saints Willow Ward, Christ Centered Community, Church on the Rock in Willow, First Baptist Church, and Saint Christopher Catholic Church.

“What I love about this is that it is a joining together of so many different groups and churches. We are so thankful,” said Reverend Christina during the dedication ceremony.

The Food Pantry also partners with the Food Bank of Alaska, the Mat-Su Health Foundation, the Rasmussen Foundation, the Coalition on Aging, and the Willow Area Community Organization, and Sunshine Transit, to name a just a few.

“So many of you have supported us, and we appreciate you all so much. We are just so thankful for each and every one of you.”

The food pantry also received a sizeable donation from the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union in Willow as part of their September fundraising campaign, “Cash for Cans.”

“Each branch takes in donations, and money goes to the closest food pantry. And I am ecstatic to give you a check for $5, 394.12.”

“I am so thankful to be the director here, for this community food pantry,” said a tearful Williams. “So much has happened in the last three years, all of which brought us to this place, where we are now. It’s been a rough three years. It’s increasingly a lot of work

Williams expressed gratitude to the food pantry board in working to hire an assistant director, Mary Lemings, to help out as the need has grown and the pantry expanded.

She said that the board was instrumental in ensuring the warehouse could be built, approving the use of COVID funds to help cover the cost of the new building, as well as a State of Alaska grant administered by the Food Bank of Alaska.

Williams also took a moment to give a heartfelt thanks to the many people in the community who come out and donate their time to make sure the pantry runs smoothly.

“This pantry runs so smoothly because of my volunteers. Look around and see how many people have helped with this pantry. It’s a community group.”

The Willow Community Food Pantry is open on Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Families may come to the food pantry once a month. The church is also open during these hours for families who live in dry cabins to take showers or gather water.

For more information about the food pantry, please visit their Facebook page, or visit www.willowumc.org/