Nestled between two other community service organizations in downtown Pell City, Christian Love Pantry is dedicated to providing food to people in need and answering the call during emergencies.
A United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) partner agency, Christian Love Pantry is run entirely by unpaid volunteers. Bob Osborn, the Director, said the team brings in about 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of food each month to fulfill its primary goal of providing local families with a full cart of groceries twice a year.
“We are trying to meet the needs of families, single moms, grandparents that are taking care of children,” Osborn said, “trying to just ease their budget a little bit.”
The Pantry’s food comes from three primary sources: a Pell City grocery store, donations and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama (CFBCA), which is also a UWCA partner agency. Fresh-Value, the local grocery, gives the Pantry a 10% discount. Donations come from a number of places including Publix, which often provides day-old bakery products and turns donations at the register into pallets of donated food.
Schools and area businesses, such as WKW Automotive, also donate groceries from food drives held specifically to benefit Christian Love Pantry. And thanks to the relationship with CFBCA, the Pantry is able to purchase food for less than 40 cents per pound.
“CFBCA really helps our bottom line,” said Osborn. “I’m amazed at the end of the year. Instead of spending $150,000 on food, I might spend only $70,000 or $80,000 on food because I buy as much as I can from the Food Bank.”
Osborn first became involved with the organization in 2004. Originally from Ohio, he moved to Birmingham to work with BellSouth after a stint with AT&T in New Jersey. He was able to retire early and moved to Pell City in 2003, which he describes as a tight-knit town. After becoming involved with a local church, he was asked to help with Christian Love Pantry, which was started in 1980 by a group of churches.
His involvement began by helping volunteers move boxes of food into the facility and load clients’ vehicles. In doing so, he also took the opportunity for fellowship with other men in his community.
“These men were almost like father figures to me because [they] were in their 70s at the time, and I was in my 50s. It was cool,” Osborn said. “There’s nothing like being able to talk about something that’s important spiritually.”
Referring to the other two social service agencies (a free health clinic and a community action office) located on either side of Christian Love Pantry, Osborn described the trio as occupying their own wings of one larger operation dedicated to helping those in need. Being in the same building means that, together, the organizations can address a whole host of needs for their clients.
“Most of our clients have very poor transportation, so when they come to us, it’s nice that they can come once and do as many things as they can…get food, pay a bill or get help with a medical problem. It’s unique that they don’t have to shop all around town,” Osborn said.
Christian Love Pantry is just one of many ways United Way partners and programs work to provide hunger relief throughout Central Alabama. To learn more, visit https://uwca.org/hunger.