MILTON, Del. - A new distribution center for the Milton Community Food Pantry opened Wednesday on Union Street Extended. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at 11 a.m. to celebrate the organization's new addition.
The pantry served over 6,000 people in 2022, with local recipients as well as others coming from other nearby towns like Milford, Ellendale, Georgetown and Millsboro.
"There's hidden poverty in Milton," said Donna Murawski, president of the nonprofit, "and we not only serve Milton but 17 surrounding zip codes."
The Milton Community Food Pantry opened a new distribution center Oct. 11.
Previously, the food pantry was based out of the Water's Edge Church. The pantry says folks in need would have to wait at least an hour to receive a distribution, as there were 17 refrigerators and freezers storing food in seven locations. Coolers were used to transport perishable food to the distribution site, and more volunteer hours were required to set up and break down temporary sites for each distribution day. The new distribution center will help streamline business, according to Murawski.
"The clients have been told, 'go here today,' or 'go in this entrance tomorrow,' so it is confusing for them. Hopefully this will be one stable location for them."
Officials from the pantry are expecting a big decrease in wait times, down to about 15 minutes. Food will be easier to access, as it will now be stored in one refrigerator and one freezer at one location. By cutting out some of the temporary sites, coolers won't be needed and labor is predicted to be down 50 percent.
Food donations are accepted to support the pantry.
Senator Tom Carper visited the new location Wednesday.
"We can say, 'well that's too bad,' or we can try to help them," the senator said. "One of the best things we can do to help those who are hungry is make sure they have a job so they can support themselves and their families. For those who may be unable to do that, we have an obligation to help establish pantries like this one."
Though the new location was funded in part by the Lewes-Rehoboth Association of Congregations, the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the Matthew James Haley Trust and more, support is still needed for its capital campaign. The pantry also accepts food and monetary donations, which go towards purchasing food and operational costs. Information on how to donate can be found at miltonpantry.org.
