A team of AmeriCorps volunteers in West Virginia is honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by restocking 18 food and supply pantries across the state this month.
This is the third year the Lifebridge AmeriCorps program, sponsored by the United Way of Central West Virginia, will endeavor to collect items for the pantries.
Program manager Mindy Robinson said the project is not limited to food pantries, but includes pet pantries, and those that collect items for babies like diapers.
In 2024, the team collected more than 6,000 items. Last year they collected about 6,800.
“Every year, our numbers get better and better,” Robinson said. “So I think they’re starting to realize we’re here for a while.”
As part of the project, volunteers pick a pantry site and then use social media, press releases and word of mouth to help promote restocking items, Robinson said. Volunteers are encouraged to promote the restock effort to the community and with other nonprofit organizations in the area.
For example, in Morgantown, the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties has partnered with the city of Morgantown to get more donations for their pantry choice there, she said.
“So just being able to push it out on social media, through press releases, word of mouth and just partnerships, it’s really starting to kick off on those fronts,” she said.
Robinson said the LifeBridge team emphasizes service projects — members do four each year. The restock is one project they do as a cohort. The project is meant to be in remembrance of King and all the good he did.
“That’s what we decided to do, just try to come together as neighbors and help our other neighbors,” she said.
To help the team restock the pantries, Robinson said people can contact the AmeriCorps program by phone at 304-340-3504 to find a drop off site near them. They can also see the team’s Facebook account, LifeBridge AmeriCorps Program, where volunteers regularly post about the different pantries they’re helping to support.
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