Our Pride and Joy~ The Community Food Pantry

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Renaming the pantry to reflect Community indicates our commitment to serve not only those living in the Canal Winchester School District but also those living in Bloom Carroll School District, Lithopolis, and underserved rural areas of Fairfield County.  For those in need, the pantry operates on an appointment basis only by calling the Community Food Pantry at 614-834-4700.   Guidelines are available.  Appointments are available each Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 1:00 – 3:00pm, except for the 2nd and 4th Wednesday when the pantry is open from 4:00pm – 6:00pm.  Clients are allowed to use the pantry twice each month and receive five days of food for each documented member of their household.  

While the pantry works in cooperation with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, financial contributions and donations of food and household items are always needed.  Financial donations can be made to Canal Winchester Human Services, 80 Covenant Way, Canal Winchester, OH 43110 or click the donate button on our Home or Donate pages.  Food and household donations can be dropped off at the Community Food Pantry (80 Covenant Way) at any time. 

 A collection box is available at the front door, located underneath the Community Food Pantry sign.  

                        ****UPDATE FOR CURRENT EVENTS AND CORONAVIRUS****

                                                         Updated:  July 29, 2020

*  Our pantry hours and days for appointments remains the same:

                   Monday, Tues, Wed:  1:00-3:00 p.m.    by appointment only

                   2nd and 4th Wed:       4:00-6:00 p.m.    by appointment only

*See  our "MORE" section and click on "Highlights" for food / lunch distribution with Canal Winchester School Pick Up Locations and Bus Delivery Schedules (e-mails with this same information has been sent to all CWLSD families).

 For more information, specific concerns or needs,  or to discuss how you can help support the pantry, please call the Food Pantry at 614-834-4700.  

Since April, 2012, the Community Food Pantry has offered Market Day each week as an outreach to low-income senior citizens residing at David’s Way.  We are pleased to provide transportation to the pantry each Wednesday to enjoy the benefits of fresh dairy and produce to help supplement their incomes.  It has proven to be a weekly highlight, bringing people together to not only receive a helping hand but also to make connections and lasting friendships.

In the fall of 2012, we were privileged to have the opportunity to apply for two Walmart Golden Spark Awards to help establish the Feeding our Future project.  Feeding our Future is a hunger initiative that is available to students of the Canal Winchester who are income-eligible to participate in the free breakfast and/or lunch programs provided through their respective schools. The program will continue during the 2020-21  school year, generously funded by the Meijer SIMPLY GIVE program and those that contribute to it.

Each week, Feeding our Future provides a bag filled with the equivalent of at least one meal per every day that the student is not able to receive the free meals from the schools (weekends and during academic breaks throughout the school year).

In order to participate, the student’s parent/guardian must register.  Feeding our Future information and registration forms are available.   

Since 2015, Canal Winchester Middle School 6th grade staff and students sponsor a food drive initiative where money is raised to partner with Canal Winchester Human Services. This initiative was inspired by Brooklyn Best, a 6th grader at that time, and her desire to honor the life of the late Brock Johnson, a peer and classmate.  Two important events culminate from the donations:  1) the students engage in a real-world budgeting and shopping experience at the local Kroger, filling the Pantry with needed items, and 2) The students distribute more than 3,000 plastic shopping bags throughout the School District and ask residents to fill them with food donations.  At this point, the community (volunteers, City workers, and School District staff) comes together to walk the neighborhoods of Canal Winchester, picking up donations.  Then all donations are then taken to the Food Pantry where they are sorted, counted, and stocked for distribution to Choice Pantry clients during the summer months.

Brock Walk has become a community effort, not only in remembrance of Brock’s life, but also sparking new and old relationships that collectively help those who need compassion and support.  In 2020, Brock Walk took in 22, 834 food pantry items---the Organization’s LARGEST donation on record!  This is an extraordinary result from an extraordinary community.  A huge thanks goes out to Kelly Best and the entire 6th grade team for continuing to make Brock Walk a heart-warming and ongoing success.