On Monday morning, Nov. 3, as uncertainty lingered over the future of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments to the more than 22 million households across the United States that rely on the program, the volunteers of Hanover food pantry God’s Meal Barrel remained hard at work distributing groceries to local families in need.
Inside the tight quarters of the pantry, located in a converted residence at 240 Frederick Street in Hanover, the volunteers shuffled back and forth as they filled paper bags with groceries and distributed them to waiting families.
Throughout the morning, the phones in the pantry’s office rang frequently, as several first-time recipients called in to register in addition to several newcomers who showed up outside the pantry.
By the end of the two-hour Nov. 3 shift, the small pantry with just six full-time volunteers would provide groceries to 31 local families.
On average, in recent weeks, the pantry has seen around six to seven new families requesting assistance, said Thomas Imler, the managing director of God’s Meal Barrel.
In October, the pantry fed around 262 local families, Imler said, roughly 60 more than the 200 typically seen during an average month.
“People are hurting,” said Imler, “and we don’t turn anyone away.”
Putting food on the table
There are no geographical or financial requirements for those asking for assistance from God’s Meal Barrel, with the nonprofit simply asking that the recipients consider paying it forward when they have the means to do so.
Open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the food pantry requests that patrons call them at 717-637-5568 on the day they would like to come in so that they can build a timeline for the day. Parking is provided to the rear of the building off of an alleyway, with recipients coming to the side of the building to check in.
As a small organization, God’s Meal Barrel can currently only offer assistance once per month for each family unless an emergency situation arises. Also in limited circumstances, the pantry can accommodate some deliveries to patrons in need that are unable to come to the pantry due to emergencies.
Each recipient of the pantry’s assistance receives three to four bags of groceries, which typically include meat, eggs, milk, cereal, bread and snacks. Other items may include non-perishables like spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, tuna soups, canned vegetables and fruits.
When possible and supplies are available, the pantry also provides hygiene products.
During growing and hunting seasons, the pantry also may provide fresh vegetables, fruits, or meat, depending on donations. Among those lines, one donation in recent weeks provided a large stock of venison, butchered from local deer.
Locals helping locals
Dependent solely on food and financial donations, the nonprofit pantry is not subsidized by state or federal government assistance.
Instead, much of the pantry’s support comes from individual donors, local organizations, and businesses, Imler said.
On Nov. 3, as the Evening Sun visited the pantry, a large donation was dropped off by the Exchange Club of Hanover, which had completed a food drive for the nonprofit.
The pantry’s space includes many racks for non-perishable goods, along with three commercial refrigerators and five commercial freezers.
Around the local community, local stores of businesses such as Weis, Wawa, Giant, and others regularly drop off groceries for the pantry, Imler said, while local organizations like the Exchange Club and others provide food drives throughout the year.
Financial donations to God’s Meal Barrel also go towards groceries, allowing the food pantry to buy supplies of key items.
Donations from the community are accepted whenever the food pantry is open, though a drop box in the rear is available 24/7 for donations.
A special donation day, ‘Andrea Day,’ is provided on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., accepting donations in honor of dedicated Hanover area volunteer, Andrea Niehoff-Goodson.
Additional information on donating or volunteering can be found at the food pantry’s website, at www.godsmealbarrel.org.
‘Doris is smiling’
Imler said the local support has been truly impressive in his time at the organization.
First joining as a board member at the time of the nonprofit’s founding by Doris Wolff in 1986, Imler took on the role of managing director in 2018 after returning to Hanover from Florida.
It was back in 1986 that Wolff and her husband Glenn Wolff, first got the message to “feed my people” through her church, starting simply as collecting nonperishables in their garage, according to a history of the nonprofit.
In 1989, God’s Meal Barrel grew rapidly with a move to a home on the 400 block of Baltimore Street, where it operated for many years.
As a result of their efforts, the Wolffs were honored by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 as one of his “1000 Points of Light” paying tribute to volunteers around the country.
Glenn Wolff passed away in 2007, with Doris continuing to operate the food pantry for many years before passing the reins to Imler in 2018. Doris continued to consult with the nonprofit’s leadership until her passing in 2022.
In 2023, God’s Meal Barrel moved into its current home at 240 Frederick Street, where volunteers continue working to serve the same cause of feeding those in need.
A core group of six full-time volunteers keep things moving, Imler said.
Imler expressed his sincere thanks to all of the Hanover community that has given so much to God’s Meal Barrel over the years in the name helping those less fortunate.
“Let the people who support us know,” Imler said, “Doris is smiling.”
