PINEVILLE, W.Va. (WOAY) – At the Wyoming County Food Pantry, shelves that once held boxes of pasta, canned vegetables, and gallon jugs of water now sit nearly empty. Each week, the line of families in need grows longer, many of them facing not just food insecurity, but unsafe drinking water and few places to turn.
Operating out of the First Methodist Church in Pineville, the pantry serves residents from across the county every Tuesday afternoon. They’re currently feeding between 1,200 and 1,500 people each month.
“We empty our shelves almost every week,” Food Pantry Director Rachel Cook said. “Yesterday alone, we served eight families who had never been here before.”
There are no income requirements to receive food. Organizers say the goal is to meet people where they are, with dignity, compassion, and without judgment.
“It’s not a hand-out, it’s a hand-up,” Cook said. “No family should have to choose between paying their power bill and having dinner to eat tonight.”
With many shelves bare, the pantry is now struggling to keep up.
Rising costs, flood recovery, and a lack of public transportation have made it difficult for many residents to access basic necessities. With only a few grocery stores in the entire county and no public transit system, many families are left with limited options.
“We live in what they would refer to as a food desert,” Cook said. “If you do not have a means to get to and from, you’re really stuck between a rock and a hard place because there’s not that much access to food.”
Water Crisis Adds to the Burden
“It’s not just food,” Cook said. “Water in this community is a huge issue.”
The water situation in parts of Wyoming County has been a growing concern, with many residents reporting wells drying up and contaminated tap water damaging clothing and appliances.
Each family receives a gallon jug, when there’s enough to give. But even when water is available, it is often far from clean.
“Not only does the water sometimes smell sulfurous or have a bad taste to it, but you’re also running into a lot of iron water. People can’t wash their clothes in the water because it’s ruining their clothes,” Cook said.
Cook says the water issues go beyond household taps, pointing to what many residents feel is a much larger concern.
“If you just look into the waste that is piped directly into the Guyandotte River, it’s a huge problem. I know that our county is doing everything they can to fix it, but it’s so much bigger than that,” Cook said.
Even though they battle to get enough water for residents every week, Cook says giving it out, when they can, is what it is all about for her.
“It’s one of the things that you literally need to survive. Everyone needs healthy drinking water, and I’m so thankful that we’re able to provide families with that,” Cook said.
After years of fighting tooth and nail for basic necessities, residents are worn out.
“It’s very, very sad. It’s something that is really affecting our county, and we’re just hoping there’s an end in sight,” Cook said.
How to Support
The pantry accepts financial donations through Cash App at $wycofoodpantry, through PayPal at wycofoodpantry@gmail.com, or by mail.
“Twenty-five cents adds up. One food item adds up. It all makes a difference,” Cook said.
Local schools, churches, and organizations are encouraged to run targeted food drives, while families are asked to consider donating items they might otherwise sell.
“Sometimes it’s going through your old clothes, and instead of selling them for a dollar, it’s saying, you know what, let’s give that away,” Cook said.
In a county where basic necessities are a daily fight, Cook says even the smallest act of generosity can mean the world to communities that are struggling to get by.
