Lighthouse Center Resale Shop supports food pantry
GYPSUM - For years, Marie Berry served as a missionary with her father in distant countries, where they offered aid and hope in medical clinics, orphanages and churches. As an ordained minister, she has preached at revivals across America. Berry spent much of her life traveling around the world to share the love of God, but on her final visit oversees, her heart turned back home.
“During my last trip to Haiti, I realized there is a need in my own backyard,” she said. “I realized I needed to do something at home.”
Berry opened Seed Faith Food Pantry and The Lighthouse Center Resale Shop in Gypsum to help meet that need. The food pantry, which is open on Mondays, provides five days' worth of food to families and individuals.
Shop began at Portage Resale Center
The food pantry was originally housed in the Portage Resale Center building in Port Clinton, but Berry’s plans outgrew the space. She heard about a building in Gypsum that was slated for demolition.
“They wanted to tear it down, but that wasn’t the vision God gave me,” she said. “God said if you show up, I’ll show up, and he never fails.”
Over and over again, people, including a journeyman electrician, offered their time and their services to help remodel the building. On the electrician's last day with them, he told Berry he had been paying her back.
“He told us, ‘Last year, I couldn’t feed my family, and you helped me,’” Berry said.
Since moving to her Gypsum building nine years ago, Berry has helped countless numbers of people.
Resale center, pantry can aid anyone in Ottawa County
“We help anyone in Ottawa County. There are no income qualifications,” Berry said.
When people arrive at the food pantry, they are provided with a prebagged sack of nonperishable food. Then, they get to choose more items from an extensive selection of fresh fruit, vegetables, breads, desserts and dairy products.
“I take whatever is left over to a local food pantry,” Berry said.
Berry opened The Lighthouse Center Resale Shop to help fund the food pantry. The shop, which sells gently used and like-new clothing and housewares, has the feel of a cozy boutique.
“Everything in here is washed, steam cleaned or laundered,” she said. “We only have quality things. The Bible speaks of a spirit of excellency. That’s what I want people to find when they walk in here. We put forth the effort to make it nice. We have a lot of ladies’ groups who come to shop and then go out to lunch.”
Ministry accepts monetary, food, merchandise donations
The food pantry and resale shop are ministries of Seed Faith Missions, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, making donations tax-deductible. The ministry accepts monetary, food and merchandise donations.
The food pantry is operated by a team of volunteers, many of whom are retired Ottawa County sheriff's deputies. The resale shop is in need of volunteers who can help clean, stock and assist with other duties.
“If students need community service hours, this a fabulous place with a Christian atmosphere,” Berry said.
Every year on the Monday before Thanksgiving, Seed Faith Food Pantry provides food to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. Anyone in need is welcome.
“We do the whole works — turkey, dressing, everything,” Berry said.
Although Seed Faith Missions helps feed hundreds of people every year, sometimes all a visitor wants is someone to pray with them, Berry said.
“Sometimes, all they need is a shoulder to lean on. I sometimes need that, too. We all need each other,” Berry said.
The Lighthouse Center Resale Shop and Seed Faith Food Pantry are at 974 S. Lake St. The food pantry is open on Mondays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The resale shop is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 419-798-4068.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Ministry, food pantry sets up in Gympsum
