Widows Barrel Food Pantry Secures Permanent Home on Highway 66

Widows Barrel Food Pantry has secured a permanent location on Highway 66 in Tell City, ending months of uncertainty that began when the pantry was forced out of its longtime home at 821 10th Street, Mayor Chris Cail announced Tuesday.

The pantry had been operating out of temporary space provided by the Cannelton Food Pantry while a coalition of local organizations worked to find a replacement site. Community Christian Church, the owner of the 821 10th Street property, said it asked the pantry to leave after the organization decided to end negotiations and collaboration with the church. January 28 was the last day the pantry operated on that property, according to WEHT.

The scale of need those disrupted months represented is significant. The pantry serves more than 280 families and around 800 individuals each month, making it the oldest and largest food pantry in Perry County. Founded by Tish Putman, the pantry has operated for more than 20 years, serving families across Tell City, Troy, Bristow and surrounding communities; the Dubois County Herald cited more than 25 years of continuous service.

"It took longer than any of us hoped, but we stayed committed and I'm proud to say we have made it happen," Cail said.

The search drew a broad coalition of local organizations. Cail credited Mark Laflin for his persistence in keeping pantry operations running during the transition, alongside Lacy Dutschke and the United Way of Perry County. The Perry County Community Foundation, the Perry County Food Coalition, Premier Property Management, and the Perry County Development Corporation also played roles in securing the new site.

Cail singled out three PCDC staff members for particular praise. "I especially want to thank Erin Emerson, Shiraz Mukarram, and Whitney Brown for acting so quickly and making this a priority," he said. "This is exactly how collaboration should work when our community needs it most."

Officials did not provide a specific date for when the pantry will begin full operations at the Highway 66 site. The City of Tell City Facebook page is listed as the source for updates as the transition continues.