One Church Street Food Pantry Suffers Major Building Damage
On Feb. 4, 2026, One Church Street Food Pantry Director, Mary Gilmour, announced that a flood, stemming from a burst pipe temporarily closed the Food Pantry. The Restoration Company was on location the same day. They cleaned up all the soggy tiles, wet bread, cardboard boxes and debris. They also had an industrial sized water sucking machine that worked on drying out the carpeting.
The next day, Pantry volunteers Mary, MariJo and Pat came in to check out what needed to be tossed (not as much as you might think!) and help clean up the shelves. They were, as always, hard-working and cheerful, and the only reason they were there was so they would be ready for our guests to arrive that weekend.
On Feb. 7, the Pantry was able to give out pre-packed bags of food during its regularly scheduled Saturday open hours. OCS is working hard to reestablish our Free Choice Pantry in some way for this week.
As of Feb. 9, the Restoration Company was still on the job and were cutting open some of the insulation around the ducts in the reception area because it is soaking wet. They were also opening up the spaces where water has bubbled up the paint in order to help the walls dry out. There are still massive blowers, fans and other heating elements providing constant warmth and moving air to continue the process of drying out the space.
The adjuster is scheduled to be at OCS on Feb. 10, to go through the building to begin the process of estimating the cost of the damage.
Our spirits can’t be dampened!
February 4, 2025 – Who says food is not beautiful? Barbara has been working on this gorgeous quilt for OCS for months. First we saw a block with corn and each individual niblet was hand stitched. Then the yellow squash with all its blossoms. You REALLY have to see the cauliflower with its felted surface!! And today she brought the whole thing before it is backed and quilted. I don’t have adequate words for the gratitude I feel, and the amazement–she planned, stitched, appliqued and will now complete this beautiful celebration of fresh garden vegetables that will ultimately hang in our conference room. Every time someone walks by and looks in–it will be hanging as a testament that every gift has its place and that we believe nutritious food is a right for our neighbors, not a privilege. Yes. Food IS beautiful. (Note: Barbara is also a Pantry volunteer!!)
January 6, 2025 – Today we had the blessing of meeting with Carol Drummond from Episcopal Charities of the Diocese of Albany. We have applied for a grant from them to help us move forward with our construction and Carol came out as a representative to see One Church Street and to find out more about our Food is Medicine program, our NOAH program and the Pantry–all programs that nourish our neighbors! Thanks for taking the drive Carol!!!
One Church Street 