Staff photo / Bob Coupland Chuck Mackey is the executive director of the Bolindale Church food pantry in Howland, which now has four main rooms that were remodeled with funds approved by the county commissioners last year.

HOWLAND — Bolindale Christian Church has a new remodeled state-of-the-art food pantry that was upgraded with funds approved by Trumbull County commissioners.

Chuck Mackey, executive director of the food pantry, said the need for food has grown in recent years, so more space was needed to store the additional items. Much of the food comes from Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.

Mackey said commissioners approved $62,750 for remodeling the pantry, which now has four rooms, including one where clients get a small shopping cart and can walk around the room and pick out items.

“We want people to feel comfortable when they come here and get what they need,” Mackey said.

He said there is a variety of canned goods and nonperishable items on the shelves, as well as frozen meats and other perishable items in a refrigerator and freezer. Mackey said the remodeling project to make the pantry larger has been talked about for years.

After the money was secured, Preston Builders comple ted the project in 11 months.

Mackey said it was his idea to add the small shopping carts to make clients feel like they are at a grocery store.

There are also reusable bags that people can use to get food.

He said the food pantry hands out about 30 tons of food each year.

“We try to offer food items that people can use to make meals,” he said.

The church has had a food pantry since 2011.

“When we first started, it was only one room. I remember people would come and get a bag of what they needed. Now we have four large rooms for them to shop in,” Mackey said.

Food is distributed 3 to 5 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.

Julianne Carsone, agency relations associate for Second Harvest Food Bank, was at the food pantry recently to see the remodeled rooms and new areas.

”This is fabulous. The church has done a phenomenal job meeting the needs of people. They now have more resources to meet their needs. We are very happy for them,” she said.

Preston Walley of Preston Builders said when he inspected the rooms pantry volunteers wanted to turn into food areas, he knew it would be a lot of work.

“It was a complete makeover,” he said.

Preston said the project included new flooring, new LED lights and water proofed rooms after there was some water found in some of the walls. New shelving was also installed, as well as a new freezer and handicap-accessible ramp.

Donations to the food pantry can be made to Bolindale Food Pantry, 2749 Fairview Ave., Warren, OH 44484.