The Cardington Community Food Pantry changed pantry procedures from shopping in the pantry to making available pre-boxed or bagged food items.
Registration will be completed outside and boxes/bags will be loaded into vehicles or given to those who walk-in. To accommodate this process and make registration quick and easy, please make a reservation prior to your pantry or produce market visit.
Use FreshTrak website to make a reservation. Click here to access and scroll down the page to find the specific date.
Call 419-408-4201 and leave a voicemail or email cardingtonfp@yahoo.com and a food pantry volunteer will respond.
For the safety and health of everyone, we do ask that you refrain from coming to the pantry if you have any symptoms of illness.
Volunteers are needed during Wednesday pantry hours as well as on Tuesday mornings to unload delivery truck and pre-pack boxes. If you would like to volunteer, please email cardingtonfp@yahoo.com.
How often can I shop? Families may visit once per month during the regular Wednesday hours from 9:00 am to noon. To avoid long lines we ask that you shop as per the schedule below, if possible.
If your last name begins with: A – G Shop the 1st Wednesday of the month H – L Shop the 2nd Wednesday of the month M – R Shop the 3rd Wednesday of the month S – Z Shop the 4th Wednesday of the month Closed 5th Wednesday of the month.
Please note Pantry will be CLOSED on the following dates: 2021: Dec 29 2022: March 30, June 29, Aug 31, November 23 Also, if Morrow County is under a level 2 or 3 weather emergency, the Pantry will be closed.
Produce Market Dates: Open to all families in Central Ohio, Produce Market days will be held at the Cardington First United Methodist Church, 300 S. Marion St.on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in 2022.
February 8 March 8 April 12 May 10 June 14 July 12 August 9 September 6 October 11 November 8 December 13 A written proxy note is required to pick up produce for another family. The note must have the signature of the person requesting the pick up, his/her address and phone number so that we can verify the request. The note must have the number and ages of the family members: Seniors___ Adults___Children___. See sample proxy letter that you can download and print to use.
How do I qualify to get food? The Pantry serves families who live in Morrow County or live in the Cardington School District in Marion County. The Free Produce Markets serve families who live anywhere in Central Ohio.
Families must certify that their income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty guidelines. Income guidelines are set by the State of Ohio each year. Contact us at cardingtonfp@yahoo.com if you need more exact information about guidelines.
What documents do I need to bring when I visit the food pantry? You will need to verify that your household resides in the area served by this organization by providing a copy one of the following:
utility bill
bank statement
some type of I.D. verifying your residency
Is there a cost to shop at the pantry? No, there is no cost for the food we provide to hungry families we serve.
How do I shop? We utilize wonderful volunteers to assist as you come through the pantry. Through our signage and volunteers, we advise about what foods are available. Our volunteers also can push shopping carts and take your bags to your vehicle for those who need a little extra assistance.
Can I visit other food pantries in the local area? Yes, you can shop at other food pantries in the area per their guidelines.
Need a ride to the food pantry? The Morrow County Area Transit service is available for your convenience. Please visit their website to learn how to schedule the service.
Have a question? Contact the Cardington Food Pantry at 1-419-408-4201 or email cardingtonfp@yahoo.com. You can also find us on Facebook at "Cardington Community Food Pantry."
Right to Refuse Service Policy In order to maintain a high standard of service and provide a safe work environment for our volunteers and patron families, this Food Pantry reserves the right to refuse or discontinue service to food pantry patrons. Service may be denied to any patron who acts inappropriately by disrupting the normal provision of services or if a patron’s behavior or environment threatens the safety of the Food Pantry’s volunteers or patron families.
Inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:
Unreasonable demands for service
Threatening or erratic behavior
Misrepresentation for the need of service
Inappropriate physical contact
Personally, threatening and offensive language or behavior
Any Food Pantry volunteer can exercise the right to refuse service when confronted by a patron acting inappropriately or when facing an unsafe situation. They will notify their supervisor or team leader of the situation immediately.
For full non-discrimination policy, which this Food Pantry abides by, please review full statement here.