Grant expands storage at Antelope County Food Pantry

The Antelope County Food Pantry located in Neligh has recently been awarded a refrigerator that can store multiple dairy items like milk, cheese, butter and more.

The grant comes from Midwest Dairy, one of 50 given to those in need of storage for dairy-based foods. The grant process was relatively quick and easy according to Heath Snodgrass, owner of Snodgrass Dairy. The one-Page application asked the number of clients served in Antelope County.

"It's meant for dairy, produce and perishible items," said Connie Bellingtier, manager of Automated Dairy Specialists, LLC, based in Clearwater. "We'll see. They can put eggs or whatever else they need to put into here for storage."

The Food Pantry is open the first and third Thursday of the month and will now offer dairy products donated by Automated Dairy Specialists for distribution to the public.

Automated Dairy Specialists is committed to stocking the Food Pantry with dairy products at the moment, but Bellingtier would like to encourage other businesses in the surrounding area to help fill the cooler, to keep the Food Pantry stocked. Food Pantry managers plan to add another refrigerator that will hold garden produce, donated through the Grow-A-Row project through Nebraska Extension..

"Lots of times we get calls from the sheriff's office where somebody has been taken out of their home at night or something and they are desperate and then we come and provide food for the family," said Bev Alderson, an Antelope County Food Pantry manager.

The Food Pantry serves anyone in Nebraska and cannot turn anyone away.

There are usually at least three volunteers helping out in the front area of the building and two to three more volunteers in the back. All the food that is seen in the front area is either donated or purchased with donated funds, while the food in the back is government commodity food. They have to be separated. Visitors are allowed to choose any of the donated items, marking requests on a form.

Volunteers are not allowed to carry groceries out of the building, so those who are unable to carry their own supplies must have someone accompany them who is capable, according to the government's rules.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering may contact Alderson at 402-843-5307 to set up a time to come in and volunteer.

"Donations can be used as long as the package has never been opened," Alderson said. "It has to be totally sealed like it was from the grocery store." Monetary donations are also appreciated.

Dairy products will be available starting the first Thursday of June, with donations stored in the new cooler.

The Food Pantry is located at 501 Main Street in Neligh.