In a perfect mix of compassion and hospitality, people enter the Witt House, a home converted to a food pantry, and leave with three days' worth of groceries, carried out in white plastic bags. The food is placed in the bags so that no one can tell that the food came from a pantry. The "clients" enter the home and sit down on a couch in the living room, where they are offered a cold soda and a message of God's love on TV. They get to "grocery shop," gleaning what they would like from a list. When they leave, their dignity is restored, as well as their kitchen cabinets. It's all a part of a conscious effort to reach out to the "working poor."

The Witt House, a ministry started in March at First United Methodist Church, began at the suggestion of the associate pastor, Angie Gage. Emmy Witt, a beloved church member, left her home to FUMC when she died. Angie saw Emmy's little white house nestled right by the church as the perfect way to reach the area around it. "We are surrounded by a community that's suffering," said Angie. Angie lent her idea to then-pastor Tom Letchworth and the Friends of Faith UMW circle, who jumped on it. The idea was presented to the church council, who approved it unanimously. The support has been that good ever since. Today, volunteers log 400 hours a month at the food pantry. Even in its inception, the ministry got a jump start when Boy Scouts Troop 500 and Cub Scouts Pack 500 scouted for food, collecting 4,000 non-perishable items. L.A. Darling then donated shelves to convert a bedroom into a storage area for food. They also had money for assistance that was directed to the Witt House. In two months, they were up and running. In that first month the ministry assisted 20 families. In August they helped 98 new families alone. Altogether, almost 500 families have been helped in only 6 months. Food items include canned food, and also eggs, milk, bread, and other foods. The Witt House gets its food from area grocery stores, from the Rice Depot and the Food Bank, where they get food for free or for as little as $.18 a pound.

According to Angie, the need is greater than it ever has been. The variety of people they help is also varied. More seniors are coming in as grandparents are raising their grandchildren. Some people only need assistance once or twice and others need it longer as they struggle to find permanent employment. Angie cites one family in particular whose home was destroyed by a tornado. The husband had been gainfully employed at the same place for 15 years while his wife home- schooled their three children. Angie said that they are exactly the type of people they have set out to help: the working poor who just need a little help, a number that is growing. The number of Greene County residents living in poverty today is equivalent to the population of the town of Walnut Ridge. “For some of us economy is recovering. The blue collar workers are not recovering as quickly,” said Angie. “There are more and more people getting laid off. Some folks only need assistance one or two times.”

“What’s really cool is getting to know the people. Everybody who walks in here--we’re looking at the face of Christ,” Angie said.

Although Angie does say that there is no time for one-on-one interaction with the clients, she hopes that while they can’t talk, they can do. “We were happy to be the hands or feet of Christ.”

Angie said that there is a place for anyone who wants to volunteer. “Those who like to be in front or a silent witness, there is a place,” she said. “There are some volunteers who only fill a bag. They see the first name on a page and they have no idea who they are helping, and it doesn’t even matter.”

The youngest volunteer ever to serve was a two-year-old who carried cans; the oldest is in his early 90's. Most of the volunteers are from FUMC, but other methodist churches are represented, as are other denominations.

People are eligible to come and receive food once a month. Participants do have to follow some guidelines as far as income and the amount of food stamps they are currently receiving. Some of the rules are in place based on the guidelines set forth by agencies where they acquire the food. They also follow the guides of the Hunger Coalition. “All of the items in our pantry are considered nutritional,” said Angie, although she mentions that are ‘extras’, like the occasional candy or snack item, that can also be taken. Angie mentioned that even the volunteers get excited over the extra items that they know people will receive. Since it’s not on the list to choose from, they will get a “surprise” when they get home, even if it’s just rice and beans with directions on how to make them, or toothbrushes, chips, or potatoes.

"What's really great is that Emmy was passionate about helping food pantries," Angie said. "As a school teacher she understood the need for food. None of us even knew (she had a passion about food pantries). We found out later. Emmy would have been so happy."

Not only does the Witt House serve as a food pantry, but they also plan to offer a cooking class. In addition, FUMC has just launched a satellite ministry as the Arkansas State University Wesley Foundation so that they can minister to students at ASU-Paragould, Black River Technical College, and any other school of higher education. A college-aged Sunday School meets in the house and the intern youth director used the home after the death of a young high school student when he needed a place of prayer and support. The church also collects Boy Scout uniforms to give to scouts who need them.

 

To see the story in its entirety, as well as photos, go to this link and then go to pages 26-27: http://www.omagdigital.com/publication/?i=82947&page=1