82°F
weather icon Cloudy

Pantry 34 helps beyond food needs, giving ‘hand up’ to locals

A 30-something husband and wife sit at the kitchen table, a stack of unpaid bills staring them in the face.

Both people have part-time jobs, but their minimum-wage salaries and part-time hours don’t cover their rent, food, insurance, clothing, utilities and transportation for themselves and three children younger than 10.

In another case, a 79-year-old widow lives alone. She receives a hot meal daily from the senior center’s homebound meal program but just can’t stretch what’s left from her Social Security to provide two more meals each day.

This is reality for those called “the working poor” and seniors trying to live below the poverty level. These situations exist in Boulder City today.

Christian Center Senior Pastor Marjorie Kitchell, Senior Associate Pastor Jim Kitchell and Associate Pastor Russ Marsh have developed a way to offer “a hand up” for these Boulder City residents called Pantry 34.

“When you go to bless somebody, you are the one that is blessed,” Marsh said. “If people aren’t helping other people, they are missing out on joys. And the key to finding joy is Jesus first, others second and yourself last.”

The groundwork for Pantry 34 began several years ago when Marsh delivered bread, donated by Panera Bakery, and some food items from Whole Foods, to about two dozen families who were facing what Marsh described as “hard times.”

At the end of 2012, Panera Bakery told Marsh that he needed to become an “associate member” with the Southern Nevada food bank Three Square to continue receiving the bread donations.

Marsh discussed the Three Square partnership and the idea of a food pantry with Marjorie and Jim Kitchell. Pantry 34 was born.

The name was chosen, Marsh said, because the Christian Center is a Foursquare Gospel Church and the food bank is in partnership with Three Square.

Along with the Christian Center, Bethany Baptist Church, Lend A Hand, Faith Christian Church and soon-to-be-added Boulder City Assembly of God provide mentors and donations for Pantry 34.

Anyone in need can be referred to the food pantry and a mentor will deliver groceries to that family or individual, no matter their religious affiliation.

When mentors deliver food, they can also determine what a family or individual needs beside food.

On a recent food delivery, Marsh saw an elderly woman’s overgrown yard and enlisted some young people to clean it up, something the woman never could have done.

Then there was the woman who couldn’t get to work because her car wouldn’t start. With a mentor’s help, the car was repaired and the woman made it to her job.

The concept of volunteer mentors developed from the realization that the average, large food pantries cannot take the time to personally talk to all those who have to wait in line for food.

And some families and individuals won’t go to a food pantry because, Marsh said, they may feel humiliated by standing in line, or their pride keeps them from going there or they don’t want to be seen by others.

By delivering food to those in need, Marsh said, Pantry 34 mentors are able to “make a personal connection.”

“These people are not just hungry for food but for somebody to care,” Marsh said.

The delivery method also allows Pantry 34 to keep the identity of those they help anonymous.

Marsh said that if there are residents who don’t believe there is a hunger problem in Boulder City, “they are blind.” There are lots of areas in the city that “we don’t see. They are walled off to us,” but they exist just the same.

What was once a bread route, today serves about 160, both individuals and families, and the number grows every week Marsh added.

If you or someone you know needs Pantry 34’s help, or you would like to be a mentor, call 293-7773 and ask for Pastor Marsh. You can also drop by the Christian Center, 571 Adams Blvd. on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. to meet with Marsh before the midweek service.

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Wine Walk returns with new lineup of themes

September kicks off the busiest time of the year in terms of community events in Boulder City.

Local schools welcome new staff faces

Author John Steinbeck once wrote, “I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.”

Who’s supposed to weed out the weeds?

“In the weeds” is a phrase used in the restaurant industry to describe when the front and/or back of the house becomes overwhelmed with orders, creating kitchen chaos.

Howdy, partner! Western Inn Motel has new owners

For nearly 90 years, the Western Inn Motel has served as a temporary place for residents as well as travelers on their way to Hoover Dam, Las Vegas and beyond.

Healthy aging at any age

Healthy aging is the process of maintaining good physical, mental, and social health and well-being as we grow older. It is not just for older adults. It starts at any age. There are key areas of health that can help you stay strong and healthy throughout your life.

When household products overpromise and actually deliver

Every now and again you come across a product that makes you stand back and say, “Wow, that worked way better than I thought it would!” These gleeful moments come as a welcome surprise when we’re often disappointed by products that overpromise and under-deliver. When I find these little gems, I store them away in my mental DIY toolbox. This past month, I was happy to add a few more “must have” products that exceeded my expectations.

Summer is a time to be safe

It’s a safe bet that the one thing we all have in common every summer is managing the extreme heat and our body’s reaction to the excessive temperature prevalent in our geographic location.

Free fishing fun

Logan Davis, along with his kids Winter and Maverick, tried their best to catch a fish Saturday, along with all the many others who enjoyed the city’s free fishing day at the pond at Veterans Memorial Park.

Ordinance promotes cleanliness, accessibility of public places

Individuals camping in public spaces has increased dramatically in the past few years across the nation. On May 27 the city of Boulder City joined the cities of Reno, Las Vegas, Henderson, and Sparks, along with Clark, Washoe, and Nye counties in passing a measure to expand the prohibition on camping in public places within city limits. The new ordinance goes into effect on June 19, 2025.

And all that jazz (in the park)

A relatively small but appreciative crowd turned out Saturday evening for Jazz in the Park, sponsored by the Boulder City Parks and Recreation Department and the Las Vegas Jazz Society. The evening featured the Marlane Coker Quintet and guest at Bicentennial Park.