MONROE – The Monroe County Opportunity Program hopes to raise $1 million to expand its food warehouse.
MCOP recently launched its first capital campaign since 2010-2011, when it raised money to open The Lord’s Harvest Food Pantry and expand the food warehouse on the MCOP property, 1140 S. Telegraph Road in Monroe. The current MCOP food warehouse is approximately 4,200 square feet. Since The Lord’s Harvest Food Pantry opened in 2012, the warehouse’s supply of food has increased annually, creating a need for more storage space, MCOP said.
Last year, MCOP provided 2.7 million pounds of food to Monroe County residents in need. Food is Monroe County’s greatest need, MCOP said.
The campaign can last up to twelve months. MCOP hopes to build 2,000 meters of additional space in the warehouse. The warehouse expansion would take place in front of the MCOP building, near Telegraph Road.
“The original warehouse was built in 2000 together with MCOP’s new office. The expanded warehouse space was added in 2012 along with The Lord’s Harvest Pantry,” said Stephanie Kasprzak, executive director of MCOP and The Opportunity Center.
“It houses all of our food, as well as freezers and coolers, so we can offer fresh and healthy produce and frozen meats and foods when available,” Kasprzak said. “The additional warehouse space will help store additional food. The pandemic, along with our emphasis on providing fresh and healthy produce, means more space is needed to meet the increased need.”
During the previous capital campaign, $1 million in funding came from the community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. After that work was completed, MCOP went from providing 700,000 pounds of food per year to providing more than 1 million to the current 2.7 million pounds per year, according to a video MCOP created for the campaign.
The video shows the origins of The Lord’s Harvest Food Pantry. It’s about Arnold Metdepenningen, a Ford Motor Co. retiree who in 1989 helped create what would become MCOP’s food program.
Metdepenningen volunteered at what was then the Monroe County Food Bank. The program grew quickly and eventually received food from Gleaners and local retailers. When the program became too large for one person to manage, Metdepenningen brought it to MCOP.
“It was a very natural thing to do. I certainly wouldn’t give it up. It helped too many people, too many children. My main concern was the children and the seniors,” Metdepenningen said.
Other food programs soon emerged throughout the province. Today, MCOP is involved in many of Monroe County’s food programs.
Ed Larkins, CEO of the Family Medical Center of Michigan, which has several locations in Monroe County, said the center partnered with MCOP several years ago to open a food pharmacy. Healthcare providers refer patients who need food.
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“Last year, with the help of MCOP, we distributed 365,000 pounds of food. The collaboration has been great,” said Larkins.
Betty Thomas of the London Township Senior Center said the center began giving milk to seniors in need with help from MCOP. Today it has a full food supply.
“It started with just some milk for seniors,” says Thomas. “It went from there. We started focusing on people in need, not just seniors. People in need can come in and get what they need.”
To watch the campaign video, visit vimeo.com/956046014?share=copy. For more information about MCOP’s capital campaign, visit link.clover.com/urlshortener/CZQxzr.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared in The Monroe News: MCOP hopes to expand food warehouse through a capital campaign
