By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

The Kentwood-based food assistance program The Pantry has been busy this past month, first opening its new location at Town and Country Mall and putting together this Saturday’s VeggieCon at Kentwood’s Encounter Church.

In March, Wyoming and Kentwood business leaders and community members came together to marked the official opening of The Pantry’s new home at 4307 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.

Started in 1985, The Pantry began as a ministry by John Knox Presbyterian with volunteers operating out of the trunk of their cars, said The Pantry Executive Director Karrie Brown. In its 34 years, The Pantry has grown to now serving more than 12,000 people each month. 

Brown said with the new location, there is a dedicated space for the NOW Pantry which services people with chronic health conditions. There is also dedicated classroom space so that the organization, through partnering with other groups, will be offering more healthy living classes, stress management, etc.

“This is to help move the needs forward for people,” she said. “We see those same families month in and month out. It is not an emergency that bring most people to us. It’s chronic poverty.”

To showcase what The Pantry provides and to educate the community-at-large about the various healthy food options out there, The Pantry is hosting VeggieCon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Encounter Church, 4620 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.

Brittany Gray, the NOW Pantry coordinator, said switching to a healthier diet is not that difficult with people able to make small changes.

“We kind of keep hearing a bit more about going more whole food based and what that kind of means is more a focus on fresh fruits and vegetables,,” Gray said, adding that it is eating more whole grains and “starting to remove yourself from a lot of meat products, diary and a lot of processed sugars and other preservatives.”

During VeggieCon, residents will have the opportunity to learn more about how to take their favorite meals and make them healthier by switching white bread out for whole grain breads or adding veggies such as lettuce and tomato to your sandwich.

“It is an outside, fun community day,” Brown said of VeggieCon. There will be couch races and a corn hole tournament. Except for those activities, everything at VeggieCon will be free.

“We are going to have a fresh market on site so people that are in the income bracket can come and make purchases, but also so other people can see what produce is available at our farm stand,” Brown said.

For more information about VeggieCon or The Pantry, visit thepanty.gr.