Salem church a step closer to expanded feeding capability

SALEM The Pleasant Street United Methodist Church will break ground Saturday morning on a new building that will bring expanded food pantry services to the community.

For many years, the Pleasant Street Church has sponsored the Food for the Hungry Food Pantry, which serves over 50 families in need each week with basic grocery items, said church trustee Bernard Campbell. The pantry has been recognized for its work in the Salem community, including a Pillar Award from the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce.

In 2012, the church began planning for a new building to provide expanded facilities for the pantry and allow it to serve people in a more efficient manner.

Approvals for the new Hope Center building, including the site plan, were granted by the town last year.

Fundraising for the project has been ongoing since last year, and Campbell said enough funds have been committed to allow construction to begin.

The fundraising was helped along by several major corporate donations from companies, including Salem Co-operative Bank, Pentucket Bank, LW Companies, and Goundrey and Dewhirst Funeral Home.

A major gift from the recently closed Hannah Tenney Memorial United Methodist Church also helped to make the construction a reality.

Site work is already underway, and construction is expected to be completed by next spring.

When completed, the new building will provide expanded storage and service facilities for the food pantry (including pallet delivery capability) and office space, along with new community space which has the ability to allow expanded outreach ministries of the church, said Campbell.

A ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m. on the church grounds at 8 Pleasant St. The public is invited.

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Salem church a step closer to expanded feeding capability