Jordan Abbott ~ Guest Writer
Tucked away near Church of the Covenant and Camp Kum-Ba-Yah in Boonsboro sits Cosby Woods Food Pantry, a free, donation-based food pantry serving Lynchburg since July 2020.
According to the pantry’s caretaker, Ruth Harrison, the idea for the pantry came about when Camp Kum-Ba-Yah was looking to rehome a storage structure previously used during summer camp, where children could stash their shoes and belongings.
“I get a lot of messages, like, ‘How did you build that structure?’ But it’s an old structure. So, my husband just kept the structure of it, and then he added the doors and then the little roof. And we just put it there because of the need, you know, within the community, with food and just trying to help out a little bit,” Harrison states.
The pantry is always open for dropoff or pickup of nonperishable items, free of charge and no questions asked.
All donations are appreciated, but nonperishable items are encouraged, especially cans with pull tabs, since not everyone who utilizes the food pantry may have access to a can opener.
Harrison also stresses the importance of toiletry donations. “Toiletries are a huge necessity that I haven’t seen there for a while,” she says.
The only type of donation Harrison discourages is clothing.
Despite the pantry being tucked away, many people rely on it daily.
“It does rotate, like yesterday, I noticed the pantry was full, and probably if I go right now, it will be half empty to empty. And then it just recycles and rotates. I wouldn’t be able to give you an accurate number, but it gets used a lot,” Harrison explains.
She revealed that during the summer months, the food available in the pantry can rotate in and out up to three times per day.
Harrison says that since the opening of the food pantry, people have been very kind and generous, and have prevented many people from living with less than they should.
For more information on Cosby Woods Food Pantry, contact Ruth Harrison at harrisonruthie@yahoo.com, or visit the pantry’s Facebook page.
To donate, visit the pantry at 4415 Boonsboro Rd., Lynchburg, VA..
