The Open Door - Recent News
The Open Door Food Pantry of Perquimans County
Receives DOA Reimbursement for
Expenses Incurred during the Pandemic
Food Bank of the Albemarle announced today that three hunger relief partners, including Open Door Food Pantry of Perquimans County, Beach Food Pantry, and Eagles Wings will each receive a full reimbursement
from the Department of Agriculture (DOA) for expenses incurred during the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic presented incredible challenges for the Food Bank and food pantries, including changes in distribution frequency, food availability, as well as rising costs of food, transportation and labor” said Liz Reasoner, Executive Director, Food Bank of the Albemarle. “This reimbursement funding will cover some of those expenses, and help Open Door Perquimans, Beach Food Pantry, and Eagles Wings continue their outstanding work as Food Bank partner agencies.”
The Food Bank of the Albemarle provides food and non-food products to the following partner agencies in Perquimans County: Albemarle Commission, First Baptist Missionary Church, Mobile Food Pantry - Perquimans, New Hope Church (formerly New Hope United Methodist Church), and The Open Door of Perquimans County.
“The Open Door Food Pantry of Perquimans County is very appreciative of the CARES fund reimbursement and we appreciate Food Bank of the Albemarle’s efforts on our behalf,” said Rosemary Smith, Executive Director, Open Door Food Pantry. “These funds will be very helpful with purchasing much-needed items for our clients.’
Open Door Perquimans will be reimbursed in the amount of $9,135 by the DOA for the following expenses during the pandemic:
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Household items
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Office supplies
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Food
Food insecurity in Perquimans County touches 1,680 individuals (12%) of which 460 (18%) are children.
Goodwill Donates $125,00 to The Open Door
Two area food banks were among 33 North Carolina nonprofits and service organizations to receive shares of $1.5 million in grants from Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina.
Food Bank of the Albemarle’s share of the money is $25,000, while Open Door Food Pantry in Winfall has been awarded $125,000, according to Goodwill spokesman Marston Roue.
“Our goal is to provide opportunities that transform lives throughout the local and regional communities we serve,” said Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina President and CEO Christopher Hash. “These grants will act as a mission multiplier, providing needed resources to organizations and allowing them to expand their scope of service for the various populations they serve.”
Pictured from left to right: Dina Hurdle, Open Door Food Pantry Board of Directors Chair; Rosemary Smith, Open Door Food Pantry Executive Director.
The Open Door
of Perquimans County, INC Receives ACT Grant
The Open Door of Perquimans County, Inc. recently received a $5,000 grant from the Albemarle Community Trust.
The grant will be used to purchase healthy snacks for children in the Perquimans County summer school program. Healthy snacks will also be purchased for food pantry clients.
The Albemarle Community Trust is funded by co-op members who voluntarily donate through their power bills. Members can opt out at any time.
The Open Door Receives
Community Benefits Grant
Vidant Chowan Hospital recently awarded the Open Door Food Pantry of Perquimans County $5,000 in grant funds, as part of its Community Benefit Grants Program. Vidant Health representatives presented the check to Rosemary Smith and Dina Hurdle, of the Open Door Food Pantry, on February 15, 2022. The Open Door Food Pantry provides programs and offers services that align with Vidant Health's mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.
The funds will support the expansion of services to food pantry clients in important areas of need which include personal care products to improve their health and hygiene and personal assistance items to access necessary nutritional foods. Personal care products such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, incontinence supplies, feminine hygiene products, infant and toddler diapers, infant and adult wipes, masks, hand sanitizer, etc.…are not covered by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, making funding vital to provide these necessities to low-income individuals and families. Additionally, the funding will assist in providing qualifying clients with assistance devices, such as electric can openers, manual can openers, pop top can opener aids and other small kitchen aids for us in opening cans, jars, and bottles.
Pictured from left to right: Jennifer Harriss, Vidant Chowan Hospital Development Manager; Rosemary Smith, Open Door Food Pantry Executive Director; Dina Hurdle, Open Door Food Pantry Board of Directors Chair; Kahla Hall, Vidant Health Foundation Director of Community Benefit.
Pictured is Pastor Coles (second from right) and his volunteers. Also pictured is
Kahla Hall (third from the right), Vidant Health Foundation Director of Community Benefit.
Churches Outreach Network
Through the generosity of our partners at Churches Outreach Network, their founder Pastor Rodney Coles and his many volunteers, we received numerous
wonderful donations of adult incontinence supplies, cleaning disinfectants, hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes children’s and adult face masks and much more.