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Lack of donations forces temporary closure of Roxboro food pantry

A Person County food pantry that serves hundreds of people every month is in need of help. A lack of monetary donations forced the Food Pantry of Roxboro, at 704 Franklin Street, to recently close, and while some donations have come through the door, the pastor who runs the pantry said it is a temporary fix.

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ROXBORO, N.C. — A Person County food pantry that serves hundreds of people every month is in need of help.

A lack of monetary donations forced the Food Pantry of Roxboro, at 704 Franklin Street, to temporary close.

"The power is off. The food pantry is on hold," said Reverend David Blackwell, of Word of Life Church.

"We've had to make a decision to just stop in our tracks where we were because of a lack of financial support," Blackwell said.

The food pantry had been in the community for 17 years and serves hundreds of people every month.

"90 to 95 percent of the funding was coming out of my church," Blackwell said.

But the small church could not keep up.

"It's more like being hurt because you see something that you love, that you see as a tremendous blessing to the community, and then you can't do it anymore," he said.

Blackwell said he hopes the community will step up.

"We are needed here. I believe it is God's desire that we be here," he said.

A few local grocery stores provided the food panty with food donations, but Blackwell said monetary donations are what they need to survive. Electricity alone, with 17 refrigerators and freezers, adds up fast, he said.

Those interested in helping can send donations to the Word of Life Church at P.O. Box 819 Roxboro, NC 27573.

The food pantry reopened Friday, but anyone in need of food can also visit the Christian Help Center at 122 Depot St.

The Christian Help Center is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Lunch is available Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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