Joe’s Place Food Pantry is open 4-5:30pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month
(2nd and 3rd Thursdays in November and December on account of Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Please enter the parking lot from the driveway entrance at the corner of Route 425 and Durham Church Road. The distribution crew will be waiting at the other end of the parking lot, ready to load groceries into your vehicle.
If it is your first visit, welcome! Please bring ID if possible on your first visit so we can get you into the system.
We usually have pet food to offer, thanks to the good folks at Little Beans Orphan Ark Rescue. Check them out!
The Story of Joe’s Place
“Joe’s Place” has been serving the Nanjemoy community since 2006. Prior to the establishment of the food pantry the Ladies Mite Society had been providing food to those who needed some extra assistance. Joe Plemons, a parishioner, was approached and asked to help create a food pantry to serve those families who were identified as food insecure. In 2006 with the help of Mr. Plemons, Joe’s Place was established and named in his honor.
Today, Joe’s Place is a thriving food pantry that not only serves Nanjemoy but the wider community area. In the beginning, the participants were invited to come into the parish hall and shop for the items they wanted. However, with the onset of Covid-19 the decision was made to move the food distribution outside and volunteers bagged up the food items. The food items were then placed directly in the vehicles which in the long run was identified as a good thing. As our clients have aged it has become more difficult for them to manage the steps into the hall. As the volunteers have aged and also diminished the manner of distribution has been easier for all concerned.
From 2006 to the present, we have seen the number of clients ebb and flow, but we have some regular ones who have shown up through all kinds of adversity. During Covid-19 and 2020 we saw our numbers go up but as the pandemic continued there were many more pantries that opened up during that time.
Not only do we feed our neighbors, but we listen and minister to them. As we have been doing this so long, that we recognize those who have become regulars and we know what is happening with them and their families. Clients are added to our prayer list and prayed for as they share their joys and adversities.
Since 2020 we have served over 1,698 households, 4,161 clients, with 6-10 volunteers putting in over 1,794.5 hours.
Our dedicated volunteers are the backbone of the food pantry and without Carl and Johnny, who do the bulk of the work, we wouldn’t have the successful operation we have. Carl and Johnny pick up, sort, and store food from the Southern Maryland Food Bank and local grocery stores and churches who share their wealth.
Joe’s Place operates twice a month, rain, snow, or shine. We are there to provide assistance to who need it along with a smile, a warm welcome and a willing ear.
