Center 64 Food Pantry is currently in the process of moving from their location on Highway 64 and Blackstone Street to the former Vian Peace Center, which is located directly across the street.
Doug White is the founder and operator of the food pantry in Vian, which serves those who are in need and cannot find help.
White said the Center currently serves around 90 families continuously but when they have loads of fresh produce, they tend to serve up to 300 families.
White has been helping families in need for eight years, and has been at the location in Vian for two years now. He said he hopes the new location will be the forever home of Center 64.
“We estimate to be finished with the moving process by today (June 18).” White said.
“Center 64’s new building will continue to serve as a food pantry, but will also serve as a community center.”
White said they hope to use their extra space to hold canning classes, teach people to dehydrate and freeze dry products, as well as hold Cherokee language classes. They also host the Cherokee meetings at the end of every month.
Doug White, founder and operator of Center 64 Food Pantry in Vian, said the food pantry has moved across the street into the former Vian Peace Center building. White said they hope to use the extra space to hold canning classes, teach people to dehydrate and freeze dry products, as well as hold Cherokee language classes.
White said Center 64 recently received a $2,500 grant for health and wellness. He said he is planning on using this money to get more resources for those in need.
White shared that he faced many medical challenges and believes that the reason he was able to overcome them was “because God was not done with him.”
“God wanted me to continue feeding the hungry,” he said. “The reason I started Center 64 was because one day, I was in a bind and I reached out for help, just for one month, and there was no one willing to help me.”
Now, White would just like to be a resource to those who are in the same situation he was.
“God has been very gracious to me. There has never been a time where God did not provide,” White said.
He shared that if there was ever a time he was running low on food he would say a prayer that night, and the next morning he would have calls waiting for him to come pick up new products.
White keeps all the necessities in the pantry. He has proteins, carbs, fresh produce, grains, occasionally different meat, dairy products and even sweets. Not only does he have food, he even has baby shampoo, women’s hair products, antiperspirant and many other items.
White also collects used tires for those who cannot afford to purchase new ones. He is currently trying to partconcluded ner with Lowe’s, so that he could potentially provide washers, dryers and maybe even lumber.
“I do not turn anyone down,” he said. “You do not have to qualify, all you have to do is come and say you’re in need; don’t hesitate to call or come by, because I will help those in need.”
White says the most rewarding thing he gains from this operation is seeing a smile on someone’s face who was not smiling before.
One thing he says that touches his heart the most is when a child looks at him from the back seat of the car and says “is this food really ours?” White said he doesn’t do this for glory, he prefers to work in the shadows. He says when people come to him and say thank you, he tells them “don’t thank me, thank God.”
