Worthington Resource Pantry seeks to meet rising demand
Ohio Pen/10323812

COLUMBUS, Ohio - OhioPen -- COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Worthington Resource Pantry will bring the community together on Saturday, March 14 for Shamrocks & Shenanigans, an annual fundraiser supporting the growing number of local families turning to the Pantry for help with groceries and essential items.

The event comes as the Pantry continues to see rising demand across its service area. The Worthington Resource Pantry serves families in eight zip codes across northern Franklin and southern Delaware counties, providing access to healthy food and essential household items.

In February alone, the Pantry served 3,283 households, representing 13,872 neighbors. That included 5,383 children, 7,101 adults, and 1,388 seniors. Pantry leaders say those numbers reflect the continued strain many families are experiencing as food prices remain high.

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To help meet that need, the organization recently moved to a new, larger facility at 500 Schrock Road, expanding refrigeration, storage space, and volunteer work areas. The new location allows the Pantry to distribute more fresh food and serve more neighbors each month.

A highlight of Shamrocks & Shenanigans is the Feed a Family Live Auction, where guests raise paddles to fund specific ways the Pantry supports neighbors. Auction moments represent real needs, such as providing milk for families, purchasing pallets of fresh food, or filling a truck with groceries for the Pantry shelves. Each winning bid directly translates into meals for local households.

"Shamrocks & Shenanigans is a celebration of what our community can do when we come together," said Nick Linkenhoker, Executive Director of the Worthington Resource Pantry. "Every paddle raised during the Feed a Family auction helps ensure our neighbors have access to the fresh, healthy food they need."

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The Pantry thanks its Pot of Gold Sponsors for their leadership support: BSHM Architects, Franklin Imaging, MAC Construction, Tiltons Automotive Service, Bill and Jill Gilbert, and Columbia Gas through the NiSource Charitable Foundation.

Tickets are available at worthingtonresourcepantry.org/shamrocks.

About the Worthington Resource Pantry

Since 2009, the Worthington Resource Pantry has connected neighbors to healthy food, resources, and each other. The Pantry provides groceries, fresh produce, dairy, meat, and personal care items while also operating homebound delivery, pop-up pantries, and school-based programs that help ensure families have reliable access to food.