ACCESS Set To Open A New Food Pantry In Ashland This Week

ASHLAND, Ore. — A brand new food pantry will be launched by ACCESS at the First United Methodist Church in Ashland on Wednesday.

Open to community members weekly and volunteer-operated, the pantry will assist Ashland residents experiencing food insecurity. It serves the northern part of the city while the Ashland Community Food Bank serves the south.

Leigh Madsen, a member of the First United Methodist Church, said that- as Christians, offering people hospitality is one of the commandments. She said that it’s important that the congregation engage with people who don’t necessarily come to church every day. “Food’s a really simple thing to do,” Madsen said.

About ACCESS

One of the 1,000 Community Action Agencies across the U.S., ACCESS started providing food, warmth, shelter, and other essential services to low-income families, children, seniors, veterans, as well as people with disabilities in 1976. The goal of the Community Action Network is to help people to help themselves.

ACCESS and other similar agencies help residents break the cycle of poverty and their ultimate goal is to assist people in achieving self-sufficiency. The organization has been part of the Jackson County, Oregon, network since its inception, and now also serves Ashland.

ACCESS Food Pantries

Providing food to over 30 emergency food pantries throughout Jackson County, the ACCESS  pantries are stocked with a variety of shelf-stable and fresh groceries for low-income families and individuals. Each food box is a 3-5 day supply of meals, but visitors to the pantries should consult the ACCESS website before visiting food pantries.

A map showing details of the various pantries is on the ACCESS website.