Associate Minister of Peachtree Corners Church Launches Mobile Food Pantry

It's Friday morning, and Barbara Huffman is in her basement – which serves as the headquarters of her newly formed nonprofit Huffman House – packing nonperishable foods to deliver to people in need.

She and two other volunteers fill bags with the makings of nutritious meals – a grain, a protein, a canned fruit, a vegetable, a breakfast food, a snack, a drink, and a condiment. Huffman House also distributes baby supplies such as disposable diapers and formula, and feminine hygiene products.

“Huffman House was created to alleviate human suffering at a grassroots level,” Huffman said. “There are lots of people who know how to lobby and do the things higher up, but that doesn't help people who are hungry now.”

Huffman House is the latest social service venture for Huffman, a Lawrenceville resident, who is also a spiritual counselor and an associate minister at Atlanta Unity Church.

“Starting from the time I was a child, I always wanted to help other people,” she said. “I've been doing some form of social service my whole life.”

The mobile food pantry van, which began delivering food July 1, is the first project of Huffman House. Eventually, Huffman hopes the organization will also offer a food bank, clothes closet, free counseling, training classes, and more.

“We'll just branch out and see what the need is,” Huffman said. “We don't know whether we can be more helpful to mothers at home or seniors or the disabled.”

Mobile food pantries are uncommon, she said, but important, because many poor people don't have access to reliable transportation to get to a food pantry. Huffman House's mobile food pantry, which is based out of Huffman's SUV, aims to provide those people with a supplemental source of food.

“I've done a lot of food pantry work," she said. "It's not meant to fill everybody's needs, but it's meant to help."

Other food pantries often require people seeking help to be referred by a doctor, minister, or social worker, Huffman said, which can be a problem for people who aren't religious, can't afford to go to the doctor, or don't feel comfortable going to a social worker. Huffman emphasizes that the food pantry van will provide nonjudgmental help – “Christian services for people of all faith paths.”

On July 8, the mobile food pantry made its second trip. Huffman had gotten several calls requesting donations of food, and was excited that the word was getting out and people were requesting deliveries.

One of the deliveries went to Ronell Hanks of Norcross, and his girlfriend Kim and their two daughters. Hanks is studying business administration and accounting at DeVry University. The day before his classes started, he was fired from his hardware sales job, where he had worked for six years.

His girlfriend has a job, but they use her income to pay rent, there's not much money left over for food. He applied for food stamps, but was denied because someone in the household still has a job. But Hanks said he remains optimistic, and in the meantime, he was grateful for the food from Huffman House.

“We're not giving up,” he said. “I'm still going to school, I'm looking for work.”

Carol Water, Huffman House's administrative manager, became involved with the organization after she lost her job. She knew Huffman through the Peachtree Corners church, and said she's happy doing volunteer work.

“I can't see myself doing anything else,” Water said. “I love it.”

Need help from Huffman House?

You can request a food delivery from Huffman House for yourself or someone else by calling 770-596-6663, emailing at barbara@huffmanhouse.com, or visiting the organization's Facebook page.

Want to work with Huffman House to help others?

You can volunteer your time or donate food or money. To get involved, call 770-596-6663, email barbarathuffman@gmail.com or barbara@huffmanhouse.com, or visit their Facebook page. Donations can be mailed to:

The Huffman House, Inc.
P.O. Box 465688
Lawrenceville, GA 30042

Huffman House accepts donations of non-perishable, nutritious foods, including:

• Protein foods: Creamy peanut butter, cans or envelopes of tuna, corned beef hash, canned chili, canned beef stew, dry peas and beans, jars of pasta sauce with meat, boxed macaroni and cheese

• Fruits and vegetables: Canned fruits, canned vegetables, dried fruits

• Starches: Rice, pasta

• Breakfast items: Oatmeal, grits, dry cereal (no sugared cereals), granola bars