Project CommUNITY: Louisville woman reflects on feeding the community for more than 60 years
Margaret Dickinson has been feeding the hungry in Old Louisville for more than 60 years through her work with Calvary Episcopal Church's food pantry.
"This looks like a whole lot of stuff, but by the time we get to 11:30 there probably won't be anything left," Dickinson said.
Dickinson has volunteered with the church and its food pantry since 1964.
"I've been around here forever, so, I mean, I know that this is important," she said.
She started the food pantry feeding just a few people, and now they see an average of 125 people per day.
"It's one of the only ones in this area and therefore people have come to depend upon that and I mean, they really need it," Dickinson said.
She says the need is growing, not just for food, but for necessities like toilet paper and personal hygiene items.
"On average, we spend about $7,000 a month. And that $7,000 comes from various sources," she said.
Some of those resources come from members of the Central Louisville Community Ministries, founded in 1968 to respond to requests for help that come into local churches.
"They bring us 700 or 800 items every Thursday and it's not just the parishioners, it's people, a whole neighborhood's getting involved," Dickinson said.
Beyond the donations, 54 volunteers help keep the food pantry open from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday morning.
"On the one hand, we're really pleased we're able to do it. On the other hand, why do we have this need, you know, what's wrong? Why do we have it? And what can we do to help? And that's kind of our philosophy," she said.
Calvary Episcopal Church also offers a clothes closet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday mornings.