Scurry County Spotlight
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Pictured in the foreground are Food Cupboard co-directors Johnny Irons (left) and Gary Scott. In the background (l-r) are volunteers Marie Dunkinson, Matt Stidham, Ellie Dryden and Larry Rodgers. -
The Scurry County Ministerial Alliance’s Food Cupboard collects, sorts and distributes food to to those who need it Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. -
The Ministerial Alliance’s current Food Cupboard building at 812 25th Street is no longer large enough to adequately meet its needs. The organization is looking for a new location.
Coronavirus has catalyzed more change in our world and community than any other recent event, but one positive change that has emerged from its wake is the work the Scurry County Ministerial Alliance is doing through the Food Cupboard, located at 812 25th Street, a location that used to be a KFC restaurant.
Scurry County Ministerial Alliance Vice President Reid Johnson said the loss of jobs and income due to COVID-19 has increased the amount of assistance local volunteers are providing, and the Alliance has outgrown its current location.
“We’re thankful our federal government is trying to stimulate household incomes through this pandemic, but we believe the hope of the world is actually the local church,” Johnson said. “Our Ministerial Alliance is committed to loving, serving, and supporting every man, woman, and child in Scurry County by meeting their physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual needs. The Food Cupboard has been serving Snyder for decades, but we have enough capital raised and volunteers trained to expand our outreach to other services like a soup kitchen soon. We just need a bigger building.”
Although the Food Cupboard has been on the hunt for a new building into which to expand their work for several months, it is now a must in order for volunteers to continue meeting the community’s increasing needs.
The Ministerial Alliance receives donations from local organizations and stores and purchases additional items through the South Plains Food Bank in Lubbock, then disburses food monthly to local families.The food distribution takes place each Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Through the Alliance, volunteers from area churches provide supplemental groceries to nearly 300 households per month, which is an increase from 2019.
Johnson said the Ministerial Alliance wants to expand its charitable work in Scurry County to include ministries other than simple grocery provisions.
“In addition to the soup kitchen, we also desire to provide medical equipment, baby items and small appliances through a free store as well as house ramp builders who provide wheelchair accessibility for area homes,” he said. “To pull off these projects, we need more square footage, so we’re hopeful someone leads us to a vacant building in Snyder that is both affordable and accommodating to our space needs.”
Ministerial Alliance secretary Luann Grice concluded, “These programs wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Snyder community. We are excited to see where God leads us in the future.”
Johnson said he’s open to suggestions from the public regarding vacant buildings, one of which might serve as a new headquarters for the Scurry County Ministerial Alliance.
“People may call me at Colonial Hill Baptist Church at 573-8596 should they have any suggestions for locations,” he said.