First Baptist Church, 6716 W. River Road in Vermilion, is home to the Essentials Pantry, a free pantry with personal hygiene and cleaning products that is open every third Tuesday.
The pantry’s hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. for shopping convenience, especially those who work, according to Anne Marie Wojton, coordinator.
The pantry item list includes products like toilet paper, multi-purpose cleaners, detergent, bar soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, baby wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, deodorant, feminine hygiene and adult briefs, according to Wojton.
The most needed items include body wash, conditioner, deodorant, detergent, shampoo, toilet paper and toothpaste, she said.
Upon arrival, guests fill out a survey with information, including where they heard about the pantry from, Wojton said, which is a main part is word of mouth and Facebook.
“The word has gotten out,” she said. “Getting the word out has been a big thing for us this year.”
Donations can be made to the church, as well as cash gifts which go toward purchasing pantry items, according to Wojton.
Community engagement also has played a part in donations, especially with the holidays and the recent donation drive, she said.
“We recently had a drop-off drive over the holidays, and some of the stores in Vermilion had drop-off boxes,” Wojton said. “That was a big help.”
When the pantry is open, there will be a snack table, coffee and seating area with tables for guests to feel comfortable, she said, as well as a resource table for different programs and organizations in the area.
“We try to make them feel at home,” Wojton said. “We want to be friendly and like we’re inviting people into our own homes.”
The sense of community has been felt among the volunteers who work the pantry, Wojton said, but also among those who frequent and those who visit occasion.
“It’s kind of brought a sense of community,” she said. “Not everyone come every month; there’s some that come once or twice because they just needed a little help.”
Inspiration came to Wojton in January 2022 with the realization she said that there are little to no pantries in Northeast Ohio for essential and hygiene items, as compared to food pantries, which are more common.
“I’ve been taking these little steps of faith, and by August, we had our pantry open,” she said.
A main driving force was the fact that food stamps don’t cover items such as toothpaste or laundry detergent, Wojton said, which is something people might not know.
With visitors from places like Huron and Lorain, the Essentials Pantry has been striving to provide to those in need year-round, she said.
“People come in with tears in their eyes, and they thank us for doing this,” Wojton said. “It’s been a blessing to us (volunteers) as well.”
Information on the pantry can be found on the Essentials Pantry – Vermilion Facebook page or visit https://www.discoververmilion.org/news-and-events/news/params/post/4167670/essentials-pantry-offers-free-essentials.
