Food Pantry Now Open at Charlie Ferguson Community Center in Canton

The Charlie Ferguson Community Center in Canton is now home to a food pantry that is open to the public.

Local leaders, law enforcement, volunteers and community center members gathered June 25 to officially open the center’s food pantry with a ribbon cutting.

Tannish Welch, executive director of the community center, said the pantry was funded by SmileUp!, a nonprofit organization in Cherokee County. The pantry was built by Woodstock resident Kenneth Johnson, the father of SmileUp! Executive Director Tonya Riddick.

“We saw a food security need in the community and because of our central location right off a major highway — Reinhardt College Parkway — it was a perfect fit,” Welch said.

The food pantry sits right outside the center. The public can donate canned meat, canned vegetables, canned fruit, ramen noodles, pasta and pasta sauce. These items in particular are needed, especially meat, Welch said.

People can also donate small household essentials such as individually wrapped toilet paper, individual-size laundry detergent and individual-size dish detergent.

“Anyone can donate or receive items from the pantry,” Welch said. “If you would like to donate to the pantry and it’s full for the day, items can be brought inside on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we will stock the pantry as needed. You can also make a monetary donation and indicate it’s for the pantry, and we will purchase items to stock the pantry.”

The Charlie Ferguson Community Center, which opened last summer, is located at 1398 Reinhardt College Parkway near Canton. For more information about the center, visit cfergusoncc.org .