When Della Seney learned the Aumsville Food Pantry – originally opened in 2016 at the Aumsville Pentecostal Church of God – would be closing its doors in August 2023, she knew she had to help.
“I previously ran the pantry here in the 1980s,” she said, describing the importance of having a centrally located food pantry for those that lack access to consistent transportation. “Right now, people have to go to Stayton or Salem.”
A member of the congregation at Bethel Baptist Church for the past 58 years, Seney knew the church’s parsonage was recently vacated, and thought the building might be the perfect location.
“I presented it to the elders,” Seney recalled. Once they approved, the only thing left was to find a Director of Operations. “That’s when Dave [Keck] stepped in.”
“God opened a door, and I stepped in,” Keck, who moved to Aumsville from Southern California 18 months ago, said.
Working together, the duo has since completed renovations on what they’ve coined the Aumsville Community Food Pantry at Bethel.
“So far the community has been generous with donations,” Seney said, motioning toward shelves stocked with pantry staples. “We haven’t had to buy almost anything.”
Recruiting volunteers has been relatively easy as well, with 12 transferring from the previous food pantry and another 13 joining the crew.
“And that doesn’t include the volunteers from Cascade and Stayton high schools that help us unload the trucks before we open,” Seney added.
Seney estimates the new pantry will offer services to around 200 individuals.
“We hope to meet the needs of all the community that needs it,” Seney said.
Aumsville Community Food Pantry at Bethel
645 Cleveland St., Aumsville
Open second and fourth
Thursday, 12 to 4 p.m.
www.bethelaumsville.org
