Ely food pantry closes till new location is found

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – The Ely food pantry will close. It has operated in Ely’s public library’s doorway for four years. As a temporary measure, the Ely food pantry was at the library’s foyer during COVID-19.

The pantry remains in the lobby four years later.

“Well… it just kinda happened,” said Ely food pantry volunteer coordinator Theresa Grieder.

Ely’s food pantry wasn’t expected to stay at the library long.

Grieder and other community members started it in the library entryway during COVID-19 and continued after the derecho. It may be permanent, but they realized it quickly.

“I used to think ‘oh wow, we serve 400 people’ now it’s ‘oh wow, we’re serving over 2000 people per month,’” Grieder added.

Grieder volunteered at the pantry for four years. She spends hours each week optimizing the modest library entryway and storage.

Meeting the need in a tiny space was difficult as the pantry went from a Band-Aid during COVID-19 to a permanent fixture.

The good news is it outgrew its space. The whole objective was to have a temporary remedy during uncertainty, and there’s a strong need to move forward with it, said Ely city administrator Eldy Miller.

The food pantry is inside the public library’s entrance, so the pathway must keep open and cannot store food.

Both the food pantry and library require extra space in Ely. As of now, the pantry cannot stay or find a new home.

“You know I have worked tirelessly for the past six months trying to find a location, work with different people,” Grieder added.

After Thursday’s food delivery, the pantry will close until organizers locate a new location.