Posted on October 15, 2015.
By Linda Cooper
In recent weeks, two Millington businesses have partnered with their patrons to fill the Millington Food Pantry located at Millington’s First United Methodist Church at 8029 Wilkinsville Road. Members of the Millington YMCA located at 7725 E. Navy Circle donated 3,000 pounds of food items to the pantry, and customers of the Dollar Tree located at 7858 Church Street donated 2,000 pounds of food items. Donations from members of the YMCA came through the Y’s “Winner Challenge” program. YMCA members were encouraged to donate food items to the pantry as their registration fee for the program, which challenges members to take advantage of the wide range of different activities offered at the Y. “A major part of the mission of the YMCA is to strengthen the communities we serve,” Millington Family YMCA Executive Director Justin Inskeep stressed. “We look for specific ways to serve, and thought this was a good opportunity to work with a local church.” He said, “We are delighted. This was a great cause for us to build and serve our community, and for our members to give back.” At the Dollar Tree, shopping carts were brought to the front of the store filled with food items customers could purchase and donate to the pantry through a corporate partnership with the national organization Feeding America. Manager Lorenzo Brewer noted, “This was the first year for us to participate. It was quite awesome, a good cause that gets everyone’s attention.” He added, “We actually did very little [in the store], our customers were awesome.” Gail DeLancey who oversees the pantry said, “We want to extend a huge thank you to these businesses and the many members of our community for their generous donations and for becoming more aware of the food pantry, Feeding the hungry in Millington is a community responsibility.”
The Millington Food Pantry helped feed 4,000 people in the city of Millington last year. Persons needing assistance may call 872-2771 to schedule an appointment. Food pantry patrons are seen by appointment only. The pantry’s hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and Wednesday evenings from 5-7 p.m. Follow the pantry on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MillingtonTNFoodPantry.
