Meal Barrel Project’s Vina food pantry closes

VINA — Meal Barrel Project Director Penny Freeman announced this week the food pantry’s Franklin County location would close immediately.

“It’s disappointing for me to have to close it,” she said. “Each time that location is open, it’s between 430 and 450 served.”

Freeman partnered with the Vina Volunteer Fire Department for the pantry.

She said a volunteer in the area had been allowing the use of a personal forklift, and that equipment is no longer available.

“They needed to sell it, and we only used it a couple of times a month,” Freeman said. “By the time I found out it was for sale, it was sold.

“We just don’t have the infrastructure there that we need.”

Additionally, Freeman said the Vina location, which is supposed to be self-sustaining, has fallen short of meeting its funding for the last few years, and volunteers have been scarce, too.

Even at the nonprofit’s Cherokee location, the need for more help is always present, according to Freeman.

She explained that she has a core group of volunteers, but “it’s never enough.”

“When we first started there were so many volunteers, and over time, we lost people,” Freeman said. “People lose interest.

“I would love to have more volunteers and community organizations come out.”

Freeman would love to see the Vina location reopen, but said a new location might be necessary.

The volunteer fire department that has hosted the Meal Barrel Project hopes to acquire a new firetruck, according to Freeman.

There would no longer be space available for Meal Barrel Project operations if that acquisition is made.