CENTERVILLE —
A relatively new food pantry and resource center in Wayne County is looking to build on its missions to help with food, physical and psychological needs for residents in need in southeast Iowa.
Resources For Living, 116 N. Fourth St., Seymour, in Wayne County, offers clients a food pantry, two computers to use for free Internet access for job searches, government assistance, resume writing, parenting classes, weekly NEST meetings, support and education, emotional support, thrift store, child abuse prevention, family activities, home visits and resources for everyday living.
"And all of our services are for free," said Tanecia Walker, who with Debra Eccleston, both full-time, non-paid volunteers at the center, run the day-to-day operations. "We have people coming in everyday."
Walker said most of their more than 400 clients, or 170 families who access their services, come for the food pantry. After that household items like blankets, dishes, sheets, beds, microwaves and air conditioners, if they have them, are sought after.
Walker said they have clients from all over southeast Iowa and northern Missouri but most come from Centerville. She said they try to make client's visits comfortable so they don't feel like they are dealing with a government agency.
RFL primarily goes to the Southern Iowa Food Bank in Ottumwa to stock the food pantry, Walker said. There is a charge for the food and delivery.
They do accept food donations from the public but do not want food that has been expired for more than 30 days. And Hy-Vee has offered them discounts on food.
Walker said there are no income guidelines but family size is a consideration when giving out food. Clients are allowed to get food from the pantry once a month.
Walker said for most clients that once a month is typically towards the end of the month.
"And before their food stamps kick in at the beginning of the next month," Walker said. "That's the hard times."
On Friday, Nov. 9 RFL food pantry had canned vegetables, pasta, breakfast cereal, canned soup, rice, macaroni and cheese, BBQ sauce, hot cocoa, snack bars, cookies and prepackaged meals.
The center does have one deep freezer and two refrigerators in case they come across food items that need to be kept cold.
Walker said the Seymour School District every year holds a food drive between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year they collected 800 pounds of food for RFL.
Walker said the non-profit RFL was started by her mother, Ruth Castor, in May 2009. Castor is the president of the board of directors and owns the building.
"We're a non-profit," Walker said. "If you come in and you need help we're here to help you."
In October and April RFL holds what they call "Share What You Wear." The clothing, household items, sheets, curtains, beds, toys and whatever drive is held at the Legion in Seymour.
"And people come and drop off things," Walker said. "We go through it to make sure it works, it's not stained, torn of the clothes and a lot of people come and they just take what they need."
RFL also offers clients emotional support.
"We have some clients that come in several times a week just to vent, to talk, to cry, to do whatever they need to get through things," Walker said. "And then we'll help them with food or whatever their physical needs are."
RFL is self-sustaining, Walker said. But they do have two major donors who help keep RFL and The Store Next Door open and operating. Walker wouldn't reveal the name of the donors but said one lives in the area and the other used to but has since moved.
The Store Next Door is literally what the name implies. The store is next door to RFL and is where they sell various items to supplement the center.
"We do offer good things at a low price and the money goes back into the center and it's all for a good cause," Walker said.
They stock the store with housewares, dishes, lamps, clocks, party supplies, pots, pans, tools, Christmas items, blankets and odds and ends received through donations and through other outlets.
"We also look at auctions," Walker said, as a way to stock The Store Next Door. "We go to garage sales a lot of times to try and find things. We never have the same things."
One thing they can't do is help with rent or utilities due to their limited resources.
RFL is dedicated to the memory of Teresa Staggs, who passed away earlier this year and who was instrumental in getting the center off the ground.
RFL is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday by appointment and closed on Sunday. Call RFL at (641) 898-2212.
The second floor above the RFL building according to Walker in the future will be converted into an emergency homeless shelter.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Standing outside Resources For Living and The Store Next Door at 116 N. Fourth St., Seymour, are Debra Eccleston and Tanecia Walker, both full-time, non-paid volunteers. Photo by Michael Schaffer/Daily Iowegian
-
If these two cabinets were full you would be looking at 800 pounds of food, the same amount of food Seymour School District students raised during their annual food drive in 2011. Photo by Michael Schaffer/Daily Iowegian
Share your thoughts!
The Daily Iowegian welcomes your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
November 16, 2012
Local food pantry a resource for living
- Local News
-
- 4 Counties For Kids meeting agenda for May 28 4 Counties For Kids Early Childhood Iowa Area Board The 4 Counties For Kids (A.D.L.M.) Early Childhood Iowa Area BOard will meet Tuesday, May 28 at 1 p.m. at the Monroe County Extension Office in Albia. Items on the agenda include call for public inp
- School board approves resignation The Centerville Community School District Board of Education Monday, May 13 approved Rob Busch's resignation as curriculum director, athletic director and business manager effective June 30. The board was also notified by Dr. Hindley through written
- Public input meetings for Historic Hills Scenic Byway plan Pathfinders RC&D is seeking public input to the Historic Hills Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan at meetings on Tuesday, June 11. The meetings will be held at 9 a.m. at the Farmington EMS Building, 2 p.m. at the Savannah Church in the Historical
- Jury returns guilty verdict against Udell man An Appanoose County jury on Monday, May 20 found Cliff Allen Lowe, 40, of Udell guilty of two counts of conspiracy to manufacture more than five grams of methamphetamine, class B felonies. Lowe was found not guilty of the charge of possession of a fi
-
B.V. Sodbusters meeting minutes and activities
The B.V. Sodbusters 4-H club met on April 21 at the Extension Office with 17 members and 13 visitors present. The club had a fundraiser and sold Finley Grace wickless candles and cookie dough. Money was given to the top seller of the candles, which w
-
'Tireless' 93-year-old volunteer honored
The fourth annual Cline Medal, presented March 28 at the Appanoose Economic Development Corporation banquet, honored Virginia Padovan. The Cline Medal recognizes a citizen who has invested a great deal in the betterment of Appanoose County, which can
- Show me the money Beginning next fiscal year Centerville will have approximately $115,000 in returned Appanoose County Railroad Local Option Sales and Service Tax funds to use. The Centerville City Council Monday night wasted no time and voted to award $20,000 of thos
-
Pursuit that began in Marion County ends in Wayne County
CORYDON — A pursuit that began in Marion County Tuesday evening ended in Wayne County Tuesday night. The two-hour, high speed chase that went through several counties, with an alleged short stint in Missouri as well, involved several agencies with a
-
Mayor swears in new officers
Centerville Mayor Jim Senior swears in Angela Widmer and Bryan Baum as the newest addition to the Centerville Police Department. Widmer has been a reserve officer with the department since 2011 and Baum has been a Wapello County Sheriff's reserve sin
- BOB fundraiser BOB fundraiser The Betterment or Bust group raised $1,700 Saturday soliciting at the intersection of Highway 2 and 5. The donations will be used for improvements to the VFW Hall, also known as the CB&Q Railroad Depot, on the Levee in Centerville. Thi
-
UPDATE, 10:43 a.m.: Pursuit that began in Marion county ends in Wayne county
A pursuit that began in Marion county Tuesday evening ended in Wayne county Tuesday night.
- Free concert Thursday Free concert Thursday On Thursday, May 23 Howar Junior High and Lakeview will be giving a free concert at 6:30 p.m. on the Centerville Square. IHCC compete at BPA National OTTUMWA -- Indian Hills Community College fared well at the recent Business P
- Memorial Day services The Memorial Day service in Numa will be held at 11a.m. Sunday, May 26 at the Numa Cemetery. A musical prelude will be performed. Taps will be played and the Gettysburg address will be recited. Pastor Kay Singley will be the main speaker. After the s
- Indian Hills students compete at BPA National OTTUMWA – Indian Hills Community College fared well at the recent Business Professionals of America National Contest in Orlando, Fla. Jeremy Carlsten, of Exline, was a top 10 finisher in Fundamentals of Web Design, Java Programming and Visual Basic
- Disaster assistance available to repair damaged farmland ALBIA -- Monroe-Appanoose County FSA was approved to implement the Emergency Conservation Program. The deadline for accepting applications is July 15. "Area farmers who experience extreme damage to their land from severe weather events should report
- More Local News Headlines
