Martha Lawrence, left, and Carol Berry, right (Brittany Howell for The Cullman Tribune)
Martha Lawrence was my guest this week on Community with Carol. In April 2017, Martha started Cullman’s Little Pantry, the first in the state of Alabama. The pantry, a wooden box located on Fourth Street Southeast behind the Mary Carter Store, is a place where non-perishable food and necessities can be picked up by those in need or dropped off by those donating.
After seeing a model of a pantry in Arkansas on Facebook, Martha felt the Holy Spirit giving her a nudge. So, she called the lady over the organization, and after some prayer, she approached a friend to assist her. That friend was Mary Hovater. Mary did many things to help Martha get the project off the ground. She asked local Boy Scout Troop 321 to build the pantry.
Things just started to fall into place. Martha’s sister, Melody Quattlebaum, was and still is an enormous help to the little pantry. She and Mary are the main volunteers and also two of the board members.
This has been a real family affair. Martha’s husband Eddie is very supportive and doesn’t mind stocking the storage shelves after the long shopping trips his wife makes to ensure the pantry is replenished daily.
The whole Lawrence family is involved and supports their mom and grandmother. Martha and Eddie have three children, Kourtney, Kel and Kolby. Each has given to the organization in a variety of ways. Even the eight grandchildren help Martha with the project. Kortlin, Caden, Corin, Fisher, Aubree, Cooper and Falyn all help their grandmother shop and stock items for the pantry. Baby Oakley isn’t quite old enough to do anything other than ride to do periodical checks to ensure something is there for those who need it.
I was impressed with how organized Martha is. She has learned from mistakes, like placing the pantry in the wrong location. The placement of the pantry is key to keeping the food at the right temperature. The pantry was moved 30 yards west to its current location. Martha also learned about placing different things in the pantry in different seasons, so you are working with the weather and not against it. Lawrence takes this calling very seriously and goes to great lengths to ensure the pantry serves as many as possible.
Giving credit and thanksgiving to God was something Martha did throughout our conversation.
She was also extremely thankful for the core group of ladies who gives every week to the pantry and to the city council and then-president Garlan Gudger, Cullman’s Rotary Club, the Glenn family and Office Max employees. She told me without those donations she could not fund the hundreds of dollars it takes each week to stock the pantry.
Stocking the pantry is a community project. Donations are always needed so Martha can purchase the pantry items. I asked Martha what staples are needed if an individual would rather just shop themselves for the pantry. She quickly gave me a list.
- Bottled water
- Canned meats
- Peanut butter
- Jelly
- Canned vegetables
She also wanted to include things that individuals can’t purchase with food stamps.
- Soap
- Laundry detergent
- Cleaning supplies
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
Stocking the pantry with a variety is always key, Martha told me. She even puts in dog and cat food on occasion.
If you would like to assist Martha and don’t have time to shop or drop items by yourself, you can always leave a monetary donation at First Community Bank in Cullman. You can contact Martha through her Facebook page, Cullman’s Little Pantry. She will be more than happy to store items for you and place them in the pantry for you.
Martha is happy others have taken the idea into other parts of the county and is eager to see a free pantry in every community in Cullman County by the end of 2019.
If your community is thinking about starting a pantry, please contact Martha; she is more than willing to assist you. Her knowledge is amazing and her passion unmistakable.
See my interview with Martha Tuesday at www.Facebook.com/CullmanTribune.
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