News

Storehouse moves to bigger quarters

By Bill Moss, Published: September 27, 2015

Founded 15 years ago to feed needy older folks, the Storehouse has expanded over the years to serve families, providing food, coats and blankets.

“This year we’re going into all Henderson County schools” to identify families eligible for Christmas boxes, said Lynn Staggs, the executive director. “Sept. 21st is my first day and from Sept. 21st to Oct. 16th I’ll be in a different school every day.”
If the need is great, at least Staggs and her crew of volunteers now have a more spacious facility to operate from. Earlier this month, the Storehouse celebrated the opening of its new location on Spartanburg Highway.
Once the Storehouse identifies needy families, it starts shopping. The Christmas boxes will be distributed Dec. 18 and 19 at Upward Christian Fellowship at 991 Upward Road.
“Last year we gave out 275 pounds of food,” Staggs said. “We served 400 to 500 families. It’s always going up — the economy, more people are finding out about us. The baby boomers are getting of an age where they’re needing assistance. Some of them are getting aid. That’s increasing our numbers.
“It’s expensive living in Hendersonville. We get a lot of young families just for that issue.”
When the Storehouse outgrew its space on Seventh Avenue, it looked for new quarters. The much bigger space at 1049 Spartanburg Highway has sturdy shelves to hold the boxes of food. The Storehouse buys about 80 percent of its supply from Manna Food Bank and “the rest of it is vans running around looking for bargains,” Staggs says. The agency spends $5,000 to $6,000 a month on food. Donations, a $7,000 grant from the Hunger Coalition and other grants pay the bills.
Individuals and families who need food are asked to go first to the Salvation Army or Interfaith Assistance Ministry to be screened.
“Our rent has doubled and with Christmas coming up we’re definitely going to need” donations, Stagg said. “I think the visibility is going to help us raise more funds and get more volunteers.”