The Towns County Food Pantry wants the people of Towns County to know they're here to help — and anyone who comes to the food pantry to collect food is considered a neighbor.
Food Pantry Coordinator JoAnne Wood and volunteers Kaelyn Bosrock and Lynnell Gandy spoke to Towns County Democrats at their monthly meeting Jan. 8. Their message was about getting the word out about how the food pantry — located at 1294 Jack Dayton Circle in Hiawassee — is open to any resident of Towns County regardless of income.
Receiving food "is not a process that involves a lot of paperwork," Wood said. "We do not require ID or proof of income." The food pantry, which is a cooperative ministry, does ask recipients their name, the number of people in their household, and estimated household income.
All food pantry recipients are considered neighbors, Wood said. In November and December 2024, the food pantry served more than 1,100 Towns County neighbors, according to Wood.
Food distributed at the pantry is sourced through the Northeast Georgia Food Bank in Athens and purchased with donations; through the U.S. Department of Agriculture from which the food pantry purchases boxes of food for $5 containing some $15-$20 worth of food; through a mobile pantry which delivers mostly produce purchased at a flat rate; and through food — including pet food — donated to the pantry.
Distribution days are the first and third Wednesday of each month, but food can be obtained from the food pantry any day the pantry is open, namely Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. To 4 p.m., Wood said. Towns County residents may also come to the pantry and "shop" the shelves — at no cost — for items specific to their needs and likes. The shelves are stocked with items donated to the pantry but not in sufficient quantity to go into the 90-plus boxes given out on distribution days. Shelved items might include cereal, pancake mix, syrup, pasta and pasta sauces, among others.
Wood has been food pantry coordinator since October 2024. A Towns County resident for more than a decade, she is bringing new ideas to the position, such as including a recipe that includes some of the items in each box given out on distribution days. And Wood is using her bartering skills to expand the pantry's offerings, trading five very large bags of cabbage heads for eggs and loaves of bread "which our seniors just loved getting!"
In addition to distribution days, the food pantry on Tuesdays delivers boxes to homebound Towns County residents and each week packs 145 bags for Towns County school students to take home over the weekend. Volunteers deliver the school backpacks on Thursdays and school bus drives distribute them on Fridays.
At the heart of the food pantry's efforts are its volunteers, or "my angels," Wood said, and "can pack 90 boxes in 22 minutes." Volunteer opportunities include, but are not limited to, packing boxes, packing school bags, cleaning the pantry, organizing the food that has been delivered and donated, checking expiration dates, and making homebound deliveries. Local school students also work as volunteers, Wood noted.
"We are trying to get the word out, because many people don't know we're here," volunteer Kaelyn Bosrock said. "We want to reach more people," said volunteer Lynnell Gandy. The food pantry is now on Facebook, Gandy noted. "This is our year of community awareness," Wood added.
The pantry's biggest need presently is individually wrapped snacks containing no peanuts or peanut butter for the school kids, Wood said. In addition to private donations of items and funding, she is looking at approaching national name-brand companies to help fulfill this need and others.
Towns County Food Pantry personnel, from left, Lynnell Gandy, Kaelyn Bosrock, and JoAnne Wood spoke to Towns County Democrats at their monthly meeting on Jan. 8. Among those attending was Charlotte Sleczkowski, right, a food pantry volunteer herself and the Democrats' coordinator for food pantry donations. In 2024, Towns County Democrats donated $2,530 to the local food pantry.
