The Fountain of Living Waters Church has expanded its food pantry to include an additional storage container and a second pick-up location in Pinon Hills while serving hundreds at their Saturday giveaway in Phelan.
The Pinon Hills pick-up is located at Pinon Hills Park on Mountain Avenue and occurs on the third Saturday of every month, beginning at 10:00 am by appointment only. Commodities at both locations are available to anyone in need. However, to ensure Church volunteers bring enough food for everybody who needs it, Dannielle, the food pantry coordinator, asks that participants call to schedule an appointment for the Pinon Hills pick-up location.
The new Pinon Hills pantry can greatly help the community because there are only two places in Pinon Hills for fresh food and produce. Only one occasionally carries fresh fruits, mostly apples, and bananas, and neither has fresh vegetables. There are no grocery stores in Pinon Hills. A Stater Bros. is located in Phelan, about 4 miles away, which can be a long walk for somebody with no other means of transportation.
According to a study conducted a few years ago thru CX3, an obesity prevention program offered in Pinon Hills thru St. Mary’s Healthy Communities program, Pinon Hills residents lacked a convenient location with access to fruits and vegetables needed for healthy nutrition. The Fountain of Living Waters Church Food Pantry would help to offer fresh, free fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, and much more.
The Church’s food pantry program has grown significantly over the past year and a half, serving hundreds of those in need. So much so that a local community organization, the Snowline Community Cabinet, through the Phelan Pinon Hills Community Improvement Association, has provided a large roll-off container custom built with multiple storage sections, including one with refrigeration capabilities, to help with the Panty’s increased storage needs. This container was initially purchased to provide food storage for another food and clothing pantry serving the community. Both Pantries have since moved to other locations. The Fountain of living waters church is truly grateful for this additional container as they can now refrigerate on-site.
Every week, Dannielle and volunteers drive to Hesperia to pick up fresh produce, dairy, and meats at the High Desert Second Chance Food Distribution program, ahead of the Saturday giveaway. Youth and adult members of the Church arrive early and stay late to serve the folks in need, singing, dancing, and praising the lord that their pantry has grown to serve so many people. Hundreds of folks arrive to pick up food for the week. Church volunteer Oggie greets and carefully organizes parking, which helps keep cars off the street as the pantry serves its patrons. Dannielle leads prayer over her loudspeaker and in person, talking with folks at their vehicles. Lisa organizes what foods will be given out for the day and leads all the volunteers as they prepare bags and boxes of food into shopping carts ready to be loaded into cars.
The Pinon Hills Pantry serves Pinon Hills residents every third Saturday of the month beginning at 10:00 am and is located at the Pinon Hills Park on Mountain Road in Pinon Hills. Pick-up is by appointment only, by calling Dannielle at 760-713-3335
The Phelan Pantry is held every Saturday at 10:00 am and is located at the Fountain of Living Waters Church, 10120 Johnson Road in Phelan. Commodities are given out at this location on a first-come, first-serve basis. More information is available from the Church’s website: www.phelanfoursquarechurch.org.
