news article

A food pantry milestone

February 13, 2026 / By Darlene Hyde, Lay Supply Pastor at Oakwood UMC / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The food pantry held Thursday evenings at Oakwood United Methodist Church in Elmira Heights has come a long way since its humble beginnings. When the food pantry began, it looked nothing like the current pantry. 

In the beginning, food items were kept in a room not much bigger than a closet. Back then, the food was placed in grocery bags and handed out on an as-needed, emergency basis. As the need grew, so did the pantry. It was eventually moved into a vacant classroom and modified with shelving to organize and store the food. The food was still obtained largely by donation and handed out in grocery bags. The pantry wasn’t done growing, and neither was the need in the neighborhoods surrounding Oakwood. 

Around the year 2000, things really began to pick up, and the pantry changed. More storage was needed for the food items, and a more sensible way of distributing them was also needed. Then, Director Chris Ousterson came up with the idea to let people “shop” for their own food. There were items in the bags that not every family needed, and some would be found abandoned outside the church. Chris thought if people picked out what they wanted, it would eliminate much of the waste and help the food go farther. It was also during this time that the food pantry joined forces with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. 

The food bank allowed the pantry to provide even more food for less money; in fact, some items were free. The new partnership was a blessing as the need continued to grow. Some participants even became regular visitors to the pantry, knowing there would always be something there for them. Each family or individual is also given a special meal for the holidays. You can hear participants talking as they wait for their turn, saying, “The pantry at Oakwood is one of the best in the area.” 

Under the current management of Loris “Smitty” Smith, the pantry has become a vital part of the community. He is surrounded by a dedicated staff of volunteers who work tirelessly to make everything feel comfortable and everyone feels cared for. Even when times became challenging after losing donations from a local grocery due to a fire, the faith and tenacity of the crew, with the blessing of God, helped ensure that everyone still received something. 

Congratulations to “Smitty” and his crew, and those who preceded him, in making the Oakwood Food Pantry one of the best in the area. Their reputation and dedication enabled them to bring nutritious food to over 10,000 individuals last year, with God’s blessing. All praise to God for providing for the needs of the pantry and making it possible for them to reach so many in need.