Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
With utmost humility and respect, nourish the body and mind of all seeking help
I Need Help!
Do you need food assistance? Pantry on the Bluff is open on the first Wednesday of each month from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at Bluff Park United Methodist Church. The church is located at 733 Valley Street, Hoover, AL 35226. Clients should come to the South covered entrance for assistance. There will be greeters at the door to direct you and answer any questions you may have.
Pantry on the Bluff has partnered with Bundles of Hope to provide disposable diapers in addition to food. Diapers are distributed at the same time as our food distribution on the first Wednesday of each month.
I Want to Help!
There are many ways to get involved with the Pantry on the Bluff. Here are some of the ways that you can support this important work:
Make a donation of money, food, or diapers
Financial donations allow us to buy in bulk and buy most needed items. Financial donations are tax deductible. Checks should be made out to BPUMC with a note at the bottom “for the Food Pantry.” You may also make a financial donation online. Direct your donation to ‘Designated Funds’ in the drop-down menu and enter ‘Food Pantry’ in the comment box. Grocery item and diaper donations should be placed at designated drop off bins located near the main entrances to the church building.
Organize a food drive
Children love to get involved. This is one way they can help. Contact committee members learn which items most needed. See a list of suggested food pantry items to donate.
Volunteer your time
Volunteers are the heart of our organization. Each month we need help packing grocery bags, bundling diapers, running the distribution, and restocking the pantry. If you would like to volunteer, contact Theresa Richerson theresaricherson@gmail.com.
Special gifts during the holidays or anytime
If you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift for family and friends, consider making a donation to The Pantry On The Bluff in a loved one’s name. Send us a donation, along with the name and address of the person you’d like to honor, and we will send them a beautiful notecard, letting them know that you’ve made a gift in their name.
Who We Are
The Pantry On The Bluff is a volunteer run community ministry of Bluff Park United Methodist Church that provides food for those that ask. We distribute food and diapers that have been purchased and donated. Last year, the Pantry on the Bluff supplied food and diapers to more than 200 families each month. The doors were opened to all who knocked. A diverse group of people is ultimately helped: older adults, children, the working poor, single-parent families and the newly unemployed.
Our History
The Pantry on the Bluff had a humble beginning. Prior to January 2008, the food program at Bluff Park United Methodist Church (BPUMC) consisted of providing food to four or five needy families that periodically came to the church office requesting assistance. Food was distributed from a small storage closet stocked with nonperishable items donated by members of the congregation. The church Director of Senior Services was the primary “keeper of the food closet.”
For several years, the number of families requesting assistance remained somewhat constant; however, when the economy in Jefferson County began to decline in 2009, more and more families knocked on the church doors asking for help. The doors were opened to all who knocked, but the handwriting was clear — the task of feeding the hungry required much more time, money, and attention than the Director of Senior Services could provide. The need for accurate documentation, electronic data collection and storage, and a structured program was evident. A call to the congregation was issued.
In January 2009, the United Methodist Women of Bluff Park United Methodist Church, with open hearts and minds, assumed full-time responsibility for the organization and operation of a structured, ongoing food program open to individuals requesting assistance. The plight of the elderly was of particular note in that many of those seeking assistance were the primary caregivers of children living in the home.
As the ministry continued to grow, we discovered a need for diapers. Babies need 8-10 diapers a day, which can cost more than $100 each month. Disposable diapers are not covered by any government program such as SNAP or WIC. This can place a huge burden on families with young children who are struggling financially. In 2015 we partnered with Bundles of Hope to provide diapers to the families we serve through the pantry.
Pantry on the Bluff Committee
Sylvia Sumners Chair and Purchasing
Kay Adams Purchasing
Theresa Richerson Volunteer Recruitment and Scheduling
Becky McCrary Statistics and Reporting
Julie Adams Preparing Bags for Distribution
Steve Lawson AHEPA 3 Delivery
Bob Cummings AHEPA 3 Delivery
Sandra Wingate AHEPA 3 Delivery
Jennifer McEuen AHEPA Penelope Delivery
Sula Hicks Monthly Supervisor
Stanley Davidson Ministerial Support and Monthly Devotion
Key Volunteers:
Bill and Ann Garwick Bread Pick-up and Delivery
Patti Fore AHEPA Penelope Delivery
Amy Montz AHEPA Penelope Delivery
Betsy Guy Bundles of Hope (diaper distribution)
Carole Armistead Monthly Devotion
John Sumners Food pickup and delivery
JB Thrasher
Gary Adams
Pat Westbrook
Volunteer Opportunities and Who to Contact:
Food pickup and delivery – John Sumners – 205-824-9902
Stocking the pantry – Sylvia Sumners – 205-482-5680
Bagging the Groceries – Julie Adams – 205-936-8149
Work on Pantry Day (First Wednesday of the month) – Theresa Richerson – 205-441-3467
Deliver to Senior Living Centers – Sylvia Sumners – 205-482-5680
Distribute Diapers on Pantry Day – Sylvia Sumners – 205-482-5680
Suggested Food Pantry Donation Items (PDF)