Food pantry a possibility in Presidio

April 7, 2012 No Comments

A group of Presidio residents will hear the final verdict on a potential local food pantry from the Presidio County Commissioner’s Court April 10.while the food pantry’s board members already presented their proposal to the Commissioner’s Court at the end of March, the court still needs to vote on whether to provide about $30,000 and an unused emergency-services building to get the food pantry off the ground, board president John McKeel said.while Presidio has received food from the West Texas Food Bank in the past, WTFB representative Paige Phelps said the increased cost of delivery to the area began to take a toll.due increased gas costs, the West Texas Food Bank was spending about $60,000 per year on deliveries to Presidio, Phelps said.Costs didn’t even include hotels for the driver since he opted to sleep in his vehicle, Phelps said.they told their Presidio partners in January that the West Texas Food Bank would need to cut back from one delivery a month to four deliveries a year.After discussing the situation, the local community expressed interest in the suggestion of a local food bank, Phelps said.The West Texas Food Bank gave a local group $10,000 seed money to hire a project manager, and they formed a board of directors, Phelps said.Commissioners were receptive to their presentation, McKeel said.County Judge Paul Hunt offered use of a vacant building that had previously been used by the Presidio EMS, McKeel said.with a local food pantry they would work with the Department of Aging and Disability Services and the local food stamp office to better direct food to those who need it, McKeel said.should the Commissioner’s Court approve use of the building and the $30,000 start up money to restore the building, they hope to have the food pantry ready for operation by the end of August or beginning of September, McKeel said.

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