03/12/2026
Hello everyone Its Justin Watkins. The pantry is going through some changes and shifts right now, but I want you to know that things are on track for the future!
When the pantry was first created and thought up, the people of Albany and the rest of Oregon were facing an emergency. The government was shut down and SNAP would not be given out for an unknown amount of time, despite funding being set aside for this specific situation, the federal government didn't see it fit to feed its most vulnerable populations.
That urgency lead to an idea to create a pantry. We did a lot of helping people, handing out food to upwards of 28 families, and helping with thanksgiving dinner of many people as well. Albany stepped up most, while I was busy delivering and picking up, you all were giving whatever you had to keep our neighbors fed.
However in the haste of it all, things were easier. Now that things have slowed down a bit, I had almost no idea where to start. I'm doing the work to restructure the new organization into something smaller to start, with the hope to grow into a hub that can feed those who fall through the cracks in the system.
This little node of mutual aid is a stubborn flower of hope for me and I hope it does the same for more people💛.
Please stay tuned for more announcements regarding volunteers and people who would like to have a hand in building this mutual aid hub I dream of!
[I will have the full story of my journey(for those who are interested) in the short 3 last months of 2025 posted on my brand new substack, link in my profile]
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