Meeting with Dale Mull—Shawsville Food Pantry
May 11, 2010
4:30pm
(540)268-2756 (h) (540)580-2756(c) (540)268-1002
dalemull@comcast.net

I was able to get most of the survey information from Dale in person.

About
The Shawsville Lay Ministerial Association opened a pantry in the fall of 1999. They are a collective effort of the surrounding area churches. They currently have about a dozen churches that support the program both with volunteers and monetarily. Dale Mull is the Director of the program and the only staff (it is not a paid position).

They are a USDA pantry and distribute to their clients on the fourth Thursday of every month from 6-8pm.

Food Resources
They are a Second Harvest Organization that distributes USDA food. All of their food comes from Second Harvest in some form. Every Wednesday they physically go to the warehouse and shop for food, but the rest of their food is a direct pick-up from places such as Kroger, Pepperidge Farm warehouse, and U.S. Postal Food Drive.

Volunteers
The Shawsville Food Pantry has a pool of about 100 volunteers. Dale Mull schedules around 35 volunteers for each distribution, which happens once a month. This is a two day effort; about 10 volunteers come and sort the night before and about 25 volunteers help with paper work and packing food during the night of distribution. Other than the 4th Thursday of the month, there is one volunteer used on Wednesdays to pick up from Second Harvest. If a volunteer is interested in becoming part of the rotation they need to contact Dale Mull.

Funded
The pantry is operated on a modest $14,000 yearly budget. About 80% of that budget is allotted directly for the food pantry and the other 20% goes to financial assistance. They receive a grant from the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter program through the United Way, there are various fundraisers held, but most of their funding comes from local church donations.

Needs
-Someone who can become an assistant director to eventually take on the role of director.