Jennifer Mathes, director of the food pantry at Crosstimbers Church in Edna, and Scarlet Graves, pastor of Crosstimbers, officially broke ground on Monday at the new site for the expanded pantry at Labette and Maple in Edna. Other church members attended, as did county commissioners and state Rep. Dan Goddard. Rock has already been added to the lot and leveled. A concrete pad is to be poured soon. The pantry began in 2012, helping about 30 families a month, and the pantry now helps nearly 200 families a month. The new pantry will feature a regional food distribution warehouse, cooler and freezer space, a commercial kitchen, a community room and tornado shelter and an outreach center that seats 130. Education on nutrition and culinary workshops will also take place in the space. The new pantry will address health care, education, employment and the social determinants of health, economic development and youth service. Mathes thanked the donors who made the vision possible. “We are called not to hide our light but to let it shine before others, illuminating paths toward wholeness and hope,” she said. “Meet with Jesus, meet the need” are in the church’s mission. “We are indeed called to be an example, to lead the way, to build up our communities, and to care for our neighbors as ourselves.” Ray Nolting/Sun photo
