Law enforcement, volunteers team up to serve families at pop-up pantry in Carrollton

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Pop-Up Pantry was held April 1 at Carrollton Church of Christ-Christian Disciples on Moody Avenue, where local volunteers, including Carroll County Sheriff’s Office personnel, helped distribute food to residents in need.

Carroll County Sheriff Calvin Graham, Chief Deputy Jonathan Kampfer and Sgt. Edward L. Hale assisted by loading food into vehicles during the monthly distribution.

“It’s good to help the community, especially before Easter and make sure people have food on their tables,” Graham said.

The pantry is a partnership between the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Carroll County General Health District and the Church of Christ-Christian Disciples, which hosts the event and collects pet food for families in need.

The program, which began May 7, 2025, has been held monthly and is approaching its first year of serving residents across the county.

“It’s not just about the food bank or the health department or the church or anything like that. It’s the community coming together,” said Todd Schlereth, program outreach coordinator for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

From May through December 2025, the pantry served 2,458 individuals, providing nearly 30,000 meals in Carroll County. In March 2026 alone, the pantry served 110 families and 302 individuals.

Health department officials said the program continues to address food insecurity in the area while bringing together multiple community partners.

“We feel fortunate to be able to partner with the food bank. They bring all the food down, and we help coordinate volunteers. It’s such a great resource for addressing food insecurity in Carroll County,” said Angela Pavlik, community health engagement coordinator for the Carroll County General Health District.

Carroll County Health District Community Prevention Coordinator Lisa Winkler was also on site helping to coordinate the event.

Volunteers included Alumni Coordinator Brandon Burnett of The Bluffs rehabilitation facility, along with church members and community residents.

Burnett said volunteering is part of building connections within the community.

“We’re just trying to make ourselves one with the community and help out where we can,” Burnett said. “It’s been amazing to be a part of everything.”

In addition to food distribution, other resources were available at the site. Beacon Charitable Pharmacy was on hand providing access to low- or no-cost medications for uninsured or underinsured individuals.

“You hear a lot of times that people will feed their pets before they feed themselves,” said Rose McNinch of Carrollton Church of Christ-Christian Disciples.

Schlereth said the pantry will soon transition from a drive-through model to a walk-through format for the warmer months.

He described the walk-through setup as similar to a farmer’s market, where clients can choose the items that best fit their needs rather than receiving pre-packed boxes.

Any food not distributed during the event is donated to Loaves & Fishes, ensuring it remains in the county and continues to support local residents.

The Pop-Up Pantry is held monthly on the first Wednesday at Carrollton Church of Christ-Christian Disciples, 353 Moody Ave. SW, from noon to 2 p.m. The event operates rain or shine.

Community members interested in volunteering can sign up in advance at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BCSMBBT or attend the event.