Franklin Co. Food Pantry tight on space during busy holiday months

"A good problem to have"

The holidays usually usher in a sweeping mood of generosity and kindness this time of year, and nowhere is that giving spirit more evident than at the Franklin County Food Pantry.

"That's our biggest problem – space," said Food Pantry director Betty Springer. "If we put a large order in this room, there's just no space."

Springer was busy placing a donation of saltines and other goods on a shelf in a small room inside the Community Resource Center at Hampton. The Food Pantry uses two rooms inside the building, both of which were packed wall-to-wall with non-perishable food items like canned vegetables, pasta and soup. Springer said an uptick in holiday donations has forced the Food Pantry to seek out other storage options during busy winter months, but their hands are somewhat tied. The current location is ideal for both clients and volunteers alike – it's handicap-accessible and sufficiently accommodates the elderly and other patrons.

Read the full article in the Dec. 18 edition of the Chronicle.