The St. Ignace Food Panty will receive $1,200 from Mackinac County in 2007, and the Curtis Baptist Food Pantry and the West Mackinac County Food Pantry in Engadine will each receive $500. The St. Ignace contribution is $700 more than last year, but equal to the 2003 and 2004 county funding levels.

Commissioners made the decision Thursday, November 9, following a request for increased funding from Pastor Tari Stage- Harvey of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Ignace, who is treasurer of the organization, and Therese Mackin Oja of St. Ignace. Mrs. Oja was involved with the food pantry when it was first started at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in the 1970s.

"I'm very, very concerned for the people in our town and surrounding towns who come into St. Ignace for food and help," said Mrs. Oja.

St. Ignace clergy run the food pantry, said Pastor Stage-Harvey, which is reliant on donations of food and money. It is housed at 250 Ferry Lane, which is the same location as the Hope Chest resale shop. Unlike Cedarville Food Pantry, the resale shop does not support the St. Ignace pantry. Funds from the resale shop support Project Hope assistance, said Pastor Stage-Harvey.

"Your constituents in our area are badly in need," said Mrs. Oja. "I know that you have been giving the pantry money, but I hope that you would give more money, especially since there are so many people here and the times have been terribly rough, and they are going to get rougher."

Pastor Harvey reported that this year the organization has spent almost $6,000 in groceries and served 1,104 people. In September, 145 people comprising 32 families were served, and in October, 179 people comprising 53 families received assistance. Demand was greatest last year in November and December, so she anticipates the numbers to increase again this year.

She told commissioners that people can be referred to the pantry from the Department of Human Services or they come to the building and are served on an "as-needed basis."

If someone makes three consecutive requests for food assistance, they are required to take a nutrition and budgeting class before they can receive additional assistance. The class is taught by Mary Pemble- Swiderski, the family nutrition program educator with Michigan State University Extension office in St. Ignace.

Commissioners budgeted $1,200 for the St. Ignace Pantry in 2003 and 2004, but in January 2005, they cut their support to $500, but contributed $500 each to the pantries in Curtis and Engadine. The Cedarville pantry, they noted, is supported by its resale shop.

Commissioner Carl Frazier suggested the county's contributions be based on the number of people served by each pantry, but Commissioner Jim Farero noted that St. Ignace is the only pantry to supply the commission with statistics.