MASON COUNTY — While there are several food pantries in the area providing for local residents in need, another kind of pantry is now in the making.

The Early Childhood Committee (ECC) of the Mason County Family Resource Network (FRN) is in the works of creating a baby pantry to help provide parents in need with supplies to care for their children. The first pantry is set for 6-8 p.m. on March 18. A location to hold the pantry is still up in the air.

Family Support Worker Bree Ramey with Mountain State Healthy Families spoke on beginning stages of this pantry, saying the ECC recently discussed this need and said there wasn’t any place they could refer residents to where they could receive baby supplies and they wanted to open such a place.

Ramey said the pantry will have items geared toward children from birth to three years old and include things such as diapers, wipes, formula, clothing and blankets, as well as some larger items like car seats and cribs. Those attending the pantry can also receive referral information to other agencies who can provide support for families in need.

Ramey continued, saying she has been contacting local churches to help support this pantry, with the idea of getting the support of 12 churches so each one church could sponsor the pantry each month. As of Friday afternoon, Ramey had two churches who wished to be involved and was currently working on getting more support.

As of right now, Ramey said the pantry will be held the first and third Monday of each month, but may be offered more often in the future. Ramey also mentioned she has applied for a grant through United Way of the River Cities to help fund the baby pantry, but regardless of the grant approval the pantry will be opening.

Churches or other residents interested in helping or donating to the pantry, or to offer a place to hold the pantry, can contact Ramey at 304-857-0020, ext. 106.