NORTH BEACH, Md. — This holiday season marks an exciting time for the Ladies of Charity Calvert County as they embark on the groundbreaking of a new home for their food pantry in North Beach, Maryland.
The Ladies of Charity Calvert County is a nonprofit organization founded in 1968 that aids those in need of food and other forms of assistance through a mission of “striving to follow the example of Jesus Christ by serving those in need with compassion, respect, and humility. We work to relieve poverty in all forms.”
In August 2021, the food pantry manager, Barbara Glover, recognized that the floor of the main storage area was separating from the walls. This prompted the organization to call in reinforcements, which confirmed their suspicions. They “began the challenge of planning and funding a new building for the food pantry while still meeting the needs of a growing list of clients seeking food assistance.”
First, they had to figure out how to continue their food pantry while also starting the rebuild process. “Clark Construction promptly donated a trailer to house refrigerators, freezers, and shelving units. Soon after, the LOCCC bought a second shipping container and had an existing shed.” They were also later donated 38,000 pounds of canned goods from the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which led to renting a climate-controlled storage unit nearby. The ladies found a way to serve the community amid the chaos.
Then, the Ladies of Charity Calvert County received strong support from state and local leaders, the community, and local businesses and nonprofit organizations. This support enabled them to secure $1,040,000 in government grants for the new building, “and thousands more from donations and fundraising events.”
The groundbreaking for the new food pantry was held on Nov. 14, 2024, with a great turnout and excitement over the rebuild. Construction of the new building began on Nov. 18, 2024, and the new building will be operational in 2025. The ladies said, “It has been a long journey marked by the power of prayer, community spirit, and careful planning in overcoming significant challenges.”
For more information on the Ladies of Charity Calvert County and all the great things they do for the community, construction updates, and ways to help or donate, please visit https://ladiesofcharitycalvertcounty.org.
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