Oxford Food Pantry Continues to Suffer Low Reserves During Summer Months

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com
Although the summer is winding down and schools are gearing up for the new semester, the Oxford Food Pantry—located at 713 Molly Barr next to the Oxford Police Station— is still facing low reserves of food, according to John Kohne, director of The Oxford Food Pantry.
Kohne said like most food banks such as the Mid-South Food Bank and Mississippi Food Network, they depend on corporate and independent sponsors for their individual food reserves.
“Inventories are high and plentiful in January through April but gradually deteriorate by the summer,” he said.
Kohne previously said one of the many reasons the Pantry is in need of food during these months is due to non-affordable housing in the LOU community, which forces families to prioritize their budgets on housing and transportation rather than food. 
The organization provides monthly supplemental food for more than 300 seniors, 275 children (newborn to 18) and 600 adults (18-65) in the Oxford area, according to Kohne. With Oxford’s population reaching nearly 23,700 in 2017, according to the United States Census Bureau, The Pantry feeds nearly 20 percent of the city’s population.
Kohne said besides organizations such as Lovepacks—an organization that supplies school children of Oxford and Lafayette County with food during the school year—The Pantry is the primary source of food for many local children.
In July the pantry served more than 1,000 individuals, said Fish Robinson, lead pastor of Community Church Oxford.
Robinson said Kohne asked if the church would be interested in volunteer work at The Pantry, which was an opportunity Robinson said he couldn’t refuse.
While volunteering, Robinson said church members build relationships with the community, including customers the members recognize.
“The humbling part is how we saw people we did know come through The Pantry,” Robinson said. “It opened our eyes and that is a reminder — don’t be judgmental.”
Monday through Wednesday the pantry serves LOU residents 60-years-old and under, and Thursday through Friday it serves residents 60-years-old and above, according to Robinson.
He said one of the most popular items for customers is chicken noodle soup. Due to its popularity, there is only enough of it left to go through 2 to 3 customers by Thursday.
“It’s the simple things we take for granted,” he said.
For those interested in donating, donations can be dropped off at The Pantry Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The Pantry is currently requesting these donations:
-canned meats (tuna, chicken, beef stew, spam, etc.)
-peanut butter
-canned peaches
-macaroni and cheese
-low sugar canned fruit
-long grain rice
-spaghetti noodles
-chicken noodle soup
-low sodium sweet peas
-low sodium green beans
-low sodium cream corn
-low sodium kernel corn

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