Community members say the growing need is the reason behind the pantry.
By Melissa Smith
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 6:14 p.m.
Read more: Local, State, Economy, Business, Community, Boyne Valley Food Pantry, Boyne Falls, Food Pantry, Bill Cousineau, Charlevoix County
BOYNE FALLS -- Job loss continues to affect countless families in northern Michigan, even when it comes to simply buying food. That's why the Boyne Valley Food Pantry in Boyne Falls opened its doors Thursday afternoon.
"We knew there were people in this area who were going to Boyne City and thought lets open a pantry here in town,” says food pantry organizer, Bill Cousineau.
Cousineau says residents in Boyne Falls have been traveling out of town simply to find food pantries. That's why Cousineau along with members of the United Methodist Church and St. Augustine Church in Boyne Falls came together to open a pantry in their community.
"With the amount of people out of work, their unemployment is getting to a point where it's going to run out. The need is great for food pantries right now, not just in this area but in every area of the state,” says Cousineau.
Cousineau says about a dozen people came out to the food pantry on its official opening Thursday afternoon.
"Some were from Boyne Falls and some were from Boyne City so we have them from both areas now and that's why it's called the Boyne Valley Pantry because we want to serve the people in the Boyne Valley area,” says Cousineau.
Everything from personal hygiene items to baby diapers and canned goods are available to a growing number of those in need.
Cousineau says he only expects the need for the pantry to increase and when that happens the pantry will extend its hours of operation to two days a week instead of just Thursdays.
"After the first of the year I think we're going to see lineups out the door, I really do for this area because it's unfortunately a lot of people that's been laid off right now and it's going to be more,” says Cousineau.
The food pantry is open Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m. except for next week it's open Wednesday because of Thanksgiving on Thursday.
If you need food when the pantry is not open, you can call the number on the front door and organizers will have a food box prepared for you.
