Grant buys new lift for Chesapeake Community Mission

CHESAPEAKE — The Chesapeake Community Mission Outreach has received help in its mission of feeding the needy.

The group acquired an “order picker” lift last Thursday, thanks to a grant from United Way of the River Cities.

“We were hurting for storage space,” Don Moore, the CMO’s director for 31 years, said.

Thanks to the addition of the lift, he said food items in the pantry can now be stored on higher shelves, created with pallets the CMO recently purchased.

CMO secretary Danny Newman said the United Way paid for 80 percent of the cost of the $29,750 lift.

“We’re hoping to maximize our space,” he said.

With the ability to stock items on higher shelves, the facility, which Moore said functions as a “choice pantry,” can now expand their offerings.

“Once a month people come in to get food,” Moore said. “They come through with a cart and collect items from the shelves.

Newman said the pantry serves 1,000 individuals per month. Those in need register with the CMO in advance.

Andrea Ray, the director of community impact for United Way of the River Cities, said the purchase is a part of an ongoing relationship.

“CMO is longtime is a longtime partner with us,” she said. “They are among the things we do funding for.”