Base support needed to continue programs

SIDNEY -- When Lee and Sherri Eads moved to Sidney, one opportunity of service led to another, then another.

"We got a call to come down and pastor the Church of the Nazarene in 2017. It was through that we had a house rented. And we took the assignment in May, and in October Sherri she answered an ad in the newspaper where Table of Grace was needing help or they were going to have to cut back on services," Lee Eads said.

The more they did, the more they found needed done.

 "So, she answered it, and by answering that call to volunteer we ended up with the mobile food pantry," he said.

He said the mobile food pantry started as delivering food to communities; by car, pickup, trailer, whatever was available and fit the need.

The program grew to include a thrift store and location food pantry.

"Sean Blackburn offered us his building up on Alvarado, and we moved everything there. And then instead of us taking everything to every location where there was a pantry now they come to us," he said.

The location was set up like a grocery store on one end, and offices between the thrift store at the other. 

"From that point on, it just has grown. It has taken off. And we even got a mobile pantry, 30-foot, totally customized, and a 2022 Dodge truck to pull it with. All that happened as a gift from Sandhills Global out of Lincoln, Neb.," he said.

The custom trailer was built by Adams Industries.

Sherri Eads said the number of families served through food programs can change from week to week.

"It varies. We were averaging 60 to 65 families per week. The last two weeks it's been over 70. So, it just keeps growing. We get new people every week and the needs just get greater. I think the move to a more permanent location with the school across the street, more people are aware of us so we've got more families coming in than we had in the past," she said.

She said Table of Grace serves between 750 and more than 800 individuals per month. The numbers include all of the Pantries Table of Grace supports; pantries in Kimball, Dalton and Oshkosh in addition to Table of Grace's mobile food pantry.

She said  stress is high as they have to pay people to watch the store, to work the pantry, and unload the trucks. There are paid positions available through Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). This is a federal program that provides job training and work experience for low-income, unemployed Nebraska seniors 55+ who want to re-enter the workforce.

For more information call Becca at 402-471-9948 or email her at Becca.Tangeman@nebraska.gov

The challenge is securing financial support for the programs. In addition to the food programs and thrift story, the King's Inn offers rooms and a transitional housing program. Lee said they do have volunteers who help unload trucks, the thrift store and Table of Grace food pantry, and at the motel, but the motel needs constant staffing. 

Including the Nazarene Church, where the Eads came into local outreach, there are four programs of outreach ultimately managed by two people. Sherri Eads said it is a faith effort, noting if they weren't doing it for God, they probably wouldn't do it.

She said the approximate monthly cost between the store and the pantry is about $20,000. She said they pick up food from local stores seven days a week.

Table of Grace is holding its annual Christmas sale November 21-22 at Evangelical Free Church in Sidney.

The Table of Grace Sidney Food Pantry can be found on Facebook.