Helping others at the United Community Help Center

By Shari Harris, Publisher

The United Community Help Center houses a food pantry and thrift store on Park Street in Licking. In addition to monthly food giveaways, which are income based and have to be applied for, the food pantry also offers emergency food to those in need. The thrift store provides affordable, second-hand clothing and other household items, and also has given away items when emergently needed.

Director Donnetta James shared that the need for emergency food has been growing every month. People who have lost their job, or have illnesses or injuries interfering with their ability to work, or face disasters such as fires or floods can turn to the food pantry for emergency food.

Their monthly food giveaway served 130 families last month on Food Day, which is the Tuesday following the third Monday of the month and is announced on the United Community Help Center Food Pantry – Licking Facebook page. Those interested in receiving this monthly allotment of food should sign up at the center ahead of time to see if they qualify based on income.

The food pantry sometimes has fresh produce, and will also supply meat, eggs, boxed goods and canned goods. Director James said they try to arrange the food so that it makes a meal (pancakes and syrup, for example). The food pantry purchases food from Ozarks Food Harvest and receives food donations from churches and other organizations.

The United Methodist Church donated 1,500 pounds of canned and boxed food to LUCHC in September as a part of their annual Festival of Sharing. The Knights of Columbus donate money to the food pantry at least twice each year, which they use to buy food. Rock Springs Baptist Church donates as well, about every three months.

As the need for food increases in the area, donations become more important to keep the pantry stocked. They would welcome donations of food or money to keep their shelves full. Director James shared that need increases near the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Items that are not donated often enough include canned fruit and dry goods like sugar, brown sugar, flour, salt, pepper and other spices.

The thrift store features clothing, household items, some furniture, books, and more items. Donations of items can be made at the drop box located at the entrance to their parking lot when the thrift store is closed, but Director James asks that if the drop box is full or locked, please do not leave items outside the box or outside the building. These items are ruined by the weather before they can be brought inside. She asks that donors save the items for another day instead. The drop box is currently closed because the thrift store is shifting its clothing from summer to winter. Summer clothes have been pulled from racks and sent to a Native American reservation to make room for winter items. The dropoff location will reopen on October 17.

Donated clothing should be clean and in good shape. Other donated items should also be in good condition.

Director James says, “If you wouldn’t buy it, don’t donate it.”

Shopping at the thrift store also helps support the center. Money made from the sale of items at the thrift store pays bills and helps buy food. It also allows the center to help the community by donating to the Light the Night festival, the annual fireworks show, the Licking Booster Club, the Licking school yearbook, and scholarships.

None of what LUCHC does could be accomplished without the volunteers who organize food in the food pantry, sort through and hang donated clothing, sort other donated items, and work at the thrift store. About seven volunteers come in on Mondays to help, and two or three are there on Wednesdays and Thursdays when the thrift store is open. But more volunteers are needed, especially on Mondays.

“There’s a lot of work to do,” said James.

The center is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. To contact Director James, call 573-674-4184 Monday through Thursday, or stop by the center during their open hours. Whether you are in need or want to give back to your community, they will help or accept your help at the United Community Help Center. Find them at 209 Park Street, southwest of Corner Express-Shell in Licking.