A grateful community recently celebrated the opening of the new Blackwater Ministerial Association (BMA) Food Pantry. The public Open House was held July 30 at the BMA Food Pantry’s new facility located at 374 Quail Ridge Road, Thomas. Attendees included donors, volunteers, members of the BMA Board of Directors and other stakeholders who toured the facility and learned firsthand about the four-year process of bringing the project to fruition.
In 2022, after learning that operations had to move from their site in Davis, an exhaustive search for a building site included a request to the Wheeling-Charleston Catholic Diocese to lease a parcel of land adjacent to Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Thomas. In the fall of 2023, an agreement was reached, and fundraising efforts began.
BMA Board President and Project Coordinator Tom Kucer spoke about the generosity of donors, the support of former Senator Joe Manchin and the USDA grant program, the dedication of volunteers, and some of the challenges presented that included, “a very patient stay at St. John’s Lutheran Church—well past the we’ll only be a little while phase.”
“We were slowed by unforeseen grant requirements and regulations, weather, and workforce challenges. Through all of it, our donors kept giving, our volunteers kept showing up, and this community kept believing the food bank was worth the wait. Thank you. Truly.”
Kucer continued, “Now we look ahead. We want to serve our current clients even better and welcome new volunteers. And as we do, we say a very fond farewell to our longtime Pantry Manager, Veronica Staron, who is retiring at the impressive age of ninety-one. It turns out replacing Veronica requires two people: our new co-managers, Karen Linton and Mary Sagace, keep us in excellent hands.”
Staron spoke about the history and growth of the food distribution program, “The BMA Food Pantry was started in 1979 by the Thomas Presbyterian Church. When I came on board in 2004 it was serving fewer than 15 families. Today close to 100 families receive a monthly distribution of nutritious food.” Staron has overseen and managed that growth with volunteers who she describes as “having a great work ethic and who are dedicated to the work of shopping, packaging, and distributing food while keeping in tune with other needs in the community.”
The program culminated with board members Tim McGowan and Paul Teranto unveiling a plaque that reads, “This building is dedicated to those who serve this community and the belief that no neighbor should go hungry. Through the generosity of volunteers and donors, this pantry stands as a symbol of compassion and hope.”
Food Pantry volunteers Diane Beall, Amy Goughnour, and Pat Cooper helped organize the event and served light refreshments to all attending.
To volunteer or receive more information on how you can support our effort, or benefit from our services, email [email protected], call (304) 259-5635, visit www.blackwaterministerial.org, and follow us on social media.
