By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–Giving can be contagious. At least that’s the way it seems in Henry County, with still another Little Food Pantry installed.
On Friday, the newest Little Food Pantry was installed at Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Paris, with help from volunteers from Quinn, Bethesda United Methodist, Trinity United Methodist, Antioch United Methodist and the Paris First United Methodist Churches.
Quinn Chapel Pastor Rev. John Dandridge led a dedication ceremony for the pantry Sunday afternoon, afterwhich it was stocked with non-perishable grocery and other items for those in need.
The first Little Pantry to open in the county was the Atkins-Porter Food Pantry at the Atkins-Porter Rec Center in Paris, followed by one at the Harrelson School in Puryear.
Methodist churches in the county have been responsible for opening several of the Blessing Boxes: at Henry United Methodist Church in Henry, Trinity United Methodist Church at 409 N. Wilson St. in Paris, Wiley Chapel at 422 W. Blythe Street in Paris.
Other food pantries and blessing boxes can be found at Puryear Baptist Church and Oak Grove Missionary Baptist.
The next Little Food Pantry will be installed at Antioch United Methodist Church in Springville.
Rev. Emily Muzzall Walker said, “It’s part of a group effort to continue helping our neighbors through the Paris and Henry County communities. Watching neighbors helping neighbors is so exciting.”
Rev. Walker said members of the Mansfield community have reached out asking for help establishing a Little Pantry there, too.
A Facebook page called “Little Pantries of Henry County” has been set up to keep the public informed of the location of the pantries and their needs.
Photo: Quinn Chapel Pastor Rev. John Dandridge, center, directs installation of the Little Food Pantry Friday evening. Photo by Shannon McFarlin.