Despite a weekend heat advisory and temperatures that kept many indoors, Salem Lutheran Church in Homewood has officially launched its new community micro-pantry on Saturday, June 21.
The event, hosted at the Salem church on 18324 S. Ashland Ave, celebrated its new partnership with the nonprofit Girl In Lansing (GIL) founded by Korey Ziemkowski.
Lorie Zoellick, Salem’s community outreach coordinator, thanked the church’s youth for their time and sweat (literally) spent building the pantry across three weekends.
“You guys jumped on board so willingly, so passionately,” she said.
Salem’s Pastor Brian Mayo prayed over the group and pantry, asking it become a place of comfort for those in need, reciting, “We pray that this pantry can truly help and provide, and we pray for all those who come here, that they may be blessed.”
Ziemkowski shared her thoughts and hopes for the pantry and why its design matters.
“We want people to treat this like a shelf in their own pantry,” Ziemkowski said. “If your favorite snack is chips, or croissants, or pop, put that in, not just green beans; people want the good stuff too.”
“This was the first time I really got to build with a youth group. And it gave me even more confidence to keep going and modeling this elsewhere,” she added.
Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld offered a few words, saying it was the first micro pantry of its kind in Homewood and encouraged residents to help keep it stocked. He mentioned that donation bins have already been set up at the Rock Shop and Serendipity Yoga.
Mayo recited a second blessing, referencing the Bible passage John 21, “Bless this micro-pantry and all who take from it, that they will be nourished in both body and spirit.”
Kids who helped build and paint the pantry hung around for lunch and pictures, big smiles on their faces from their accomplishments, proud, sweaty, and ready to eat.
The pantry, now completed, stands just outside the church. Available 24/7 for those in need, with a simple message taped to the door in both English and Spanish that reads: “Take what you need, leave what you can. / Tome lo que necesite, deje lo que pueda.”
