Churches work together in Vinton County

Food and Nutrition, July, 1985 by Michael Fluharty

In few places is the spirit of voluntarism more vibrant than in Vinton County, Ohio.

Perhaps this is because of the county's demographics: roughly 11,000 residents sparsely spread throughout 420 square miles of tree-covered hills. Or perhaps it is because of the county's location: southeastern Ohio, hours away from any industrialized center.

But the reason is unimportant. What is important is that local citizens have recognized that collectively they can more to help their less fortunate neighbors than they ever could individually.

An alliance of churches

For more than 13 years, hundreds of volunteers have been working together through the Vinton County outreach Ministry (VCOM), an alliance of members and friends of the 14 United Methodist churches located througout VInton County. From these churches more than 200 volunteers work year-round providing services from 10 different VCOM programs.

Rev. Stuart Huffman, minister at the McArthur Methodist Church, directs VCOM's efforts. "The community realized early," says Rev. Huffman, "that through joint ministry they could do more things, accomplish more tasks than any one church could do by itself."

Of the churches' combined membership of 740 people, more than 30 percent are VCOM volunteers. Huffman estimates that on average, each volunteer puts in 10 hours weekly, bringing the annual total to more than 100,000 hours--a straggerring amount for Ohio's second-least populated county.

"Why do I do it?" asks Marcia Moore, who works more than 4 days a month at the local food buying cooperative. "I do it because it gives me an inward satisfaction knowing I'm helping people who need help."

Retired for more than 5 years, Moore takes orders on Friday, then sorts and delivers the food, using her own car, when it arrives the following thursday.

"Were doing a lot of good for people here in Vinton County," Moore says. "And we're making a noticeable difference in their lives. People can buy food in bulk quantities at the co-op so much more cheaply than they could in stores."

Pantry meets emegergeny needs

Besides running a food co-op, VCOM volunteers also operate a highly successful food pantry. Like the co-op and other VCOM programs, the pantry is staffed by dozens of volunteers, many of whol spend 2 days or more a week working there.

Reverend Huffman is especially proud of the pantry's success. "In the 3 years I've been here," he says, "we've progressed to where last year we provided area residents with food for 3,800 meals."

The pantry is a source of emergency food. Families needing help are given enough food to prepare three meals a day for 3 days at a time. They may use the pantry's service up to four times a year, but, Huffman explains, this is not a hard and fast rule. If a household is having an especially rough time, volunteers will make sure their needs are met.

Part of the pantry's food comes from USDA through the Southeast Ohio Food Bank, located in an adjacent county in Nelsonville; part is purchased for 10 cents a pound from food banks; and the rest comes from local businesses, church drives, and anonymous donations.

Other services also provided

VCOM's activities are not limited to its food programs. In addition to the food pantry and co-op, the organization provides: vegetable seeds for home gardening and canning; kerosene heaters for emergency use during cold weather; emergency transportation to and from such places as doctor's offices and hospitals; and emergency lodging at local hotels and motels for stranded transients.

VCOM also has: counseling for alcohol dependency; a county-wide bloodmobile; a clothing bank at which used but good clothing can be purchased; and a youth work program in which county youngsters aid shut-ins by doing such odd jobs as mending fences, painting houses, and building sheds.

"I volunteer my time," says Twila Rose, who spends Fridays at the clothing bank, "because so many people around here need help. I can't give much, but I can give my time.

"Some people come in here and don't have hardly any good clothing," she says. "The clothes we get are usually in really good condition. Most are just things that people never really did wear.

"We put clothes on shelves or hang them on hangers, and the people walk around and can fill up a big plastic garbage bag for $1.00. And if they can't afford that, we won't charge them at all."

Evelyn Turner works at the clothing bank 3 hours a week and helps with a variety of VCOM activities. Mrs. Turner, who retired several years ago, says she looks forward to working with the other volunteers.

Her work with VCOM keeps her busy. "I sort and bag food for both the co-op and the pantry," she explains, "and I also help register people when we sponsor a blood drive and help with the seed program in the spring. I'm busy a lot, but so are a lot of the men and women around here. And the kids, too. They do a lot in the summer youth programs.

"We just all pitch in," she adds, "and do what has to be done."