By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

RONCEVERTE, W.Va, – “We are laying more than just a foundation of concrete and steel. We are laying the foundation for a stronger future for the propel of Ronceverte.” 

Amanda Deskins, who works as the Branch Manager at People’s Bank in Ronceverte and the Secretary of the Ronceverte Food Pantry, shared that message in a Friday morning ground-breaking on Route 219 in downtown Ronceverte. 

“Over the years the food pantry has worked tirelessly,” Deskins said. “While the demand for food assistance has grown.”

The new building will be constructed by Dogwood Enterprises and CAM Construction, with financial support from numerous local churches, nonprofits, foundations, and supporters. 

Sharon Howard, Pastor at Elizabeth Chapel and President of the Ronceverte Food Pantry Board, shared that the total cost is approximately $300,000. Thus far, she has raised more than one-third of that amount. 

“I’ve had people telling me once I break ground I can get money,” Howard joked. “So I’m breaking ground today!”

The Seneca Trail Foundation, represented by Vickie Dove, then presented Howard a check for $20,000. The members of Salem Presbyterian Church then stepped forward from the crowd, unannounced, and gave Howard a check for $10,000. The Lewisburg Elks, who also volunteer to unload food each month for nine area food pantries, made a large donation to the project as well. People’s Bank is financing the new building and has made multiple monetary donations to it already, Howard said. 

“To all of our supporters and volunteers, you have our utmost gratitude.” 

‘A decent place’

While Ronceverte has had a food pantry in town for decades, it has lacked a permanent place of its own, moving from the former armory to a low-rent, city-owned property in the last few years. 

That changed in the fall of 2024 when Barbara Hunter and Jim Williams, two Ronceverte residents and pantry supporters, purchased a plot of land on the main road just outside downtown. 

“We purchased this land as a gift to the food pantry,” Hunter said on Friday. “Because we’ve always been down in the floodplain. I hate having to worry about that all the time.”

“I just thought a decent place would maybe make the rest of the town take a little pride.”

Hunter beamed at the ground-breaking on Friday, emotional about the impact of the day on the families served by the pantry. 

“I’m tickled to death,” she said. “We are doing fantastic, and we can help so many people.” 

Howard echoed that message. “It’s giving Ronceverte something to be excited about. It will encourage the clients we have at the pantry.” 

Howard also read a statement sent to her via mail from the office of Sen. Jim Justice, which included a certificate of recognition and congratulated the community on the groundbreaking.

The Ronceverte Food Pantry serves dozens of families twice per month on Saturday mornings. Local churches provide volunteers at distributions, and an all-volunteer staff and board organize the efforts. 

Anyone wishing to contribute to fundraising for the new pantry can visit People’s Bank in Ronceverte or mail a check to: Ronceverte Food Pantry, 213 Billy Hunter Lane, Ronceverte, WV 24970.