News-Record.com

EDEN - Andrew "Gyp" Collins never doubted he would find another home for his food ministry, The Lord's Pantry. He just never thought he'd score so big.

The ministry's new home inside the old TigerTek facility on Bridge Street has four times the space of its old home at Hampton Heights Baptist Church, Collins said.

"I'm tickled to death," the 81-year-old organizer said Friday. "This is hard to believe."

The Lord's Pantry had used the fellowship hall at Hampton Heights to store and distribute food to needy residents - free of charge. But insurance liability issues surrounding Collins' use of the building led to church leaders asking the food pantry to find a new space earlier this summer.

The pantry has been unable to distribute food for three weeks, and Collins assumes many of his clients have been going without some meals.

"That's what broke my heart," he said.

Collins made numerous calls looking for available buildings. Volunteer Doug Osborne knew that the TigerTek building was empty and spoke with a company executive about securing it for the pantry.

But the new building comes with a price tag: $1,250 in monthly rent. And Collins has yet to make a $1,911 deposit to have the gas turned on. But he plans to re-open Aug. 11.

Bob Vincent, chief building inspector for the city of Eden, said Thursday afternoon that Collins had some minor issues to address, but Vincent did not anticipate the opening date being pushed back.

About 75 volunteers have spent their downtime scouring the facility and pressure washing walls and floors, Collins said. They already have begun moving some of their equipment into the building.

On Friday afternoon, Osborne and other volunteers were preparing to travel to Winston-Salem to pick up food. They will take the next week to replenish supplies, some of which couldn't make the move.

People have been good about helping out, Collins said. Someone donated about 20 tables, although he said he could use about 20 more.

The pantry also will be accepting more clothing donations now that Collins has the space to store them.

Glancing around at his new digs, Collins said he couldn't have done any better. "The Lord opened the way," he said.

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 627-4881, Ext. 126, or jonnelle.davis@news-record.com