ReachOut Food Pantry marked the completion of a sweeping renovation project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 7, drawing city officials and dozens of community members to the Morgan Hill nonprofit’s facility on the grounds of St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church.
More than two years in the making, the project included a new outdoor waiting pavilion, a full interior remodel and the addition of a large commercial refrigerator, bringing long-overdue upgrades to a building that had been in use for more than 40 years.
“It’s just been a blessing for everybody to have this safe, comfortable place to sit,” said Monica McClintock, who co-manages the pantry alongside fellow director Carol Lillig.
The most visible addition is a covered pavilion with seven benches on a concrete pad, replacing what had been an uneven, unpaved area where clients waited in the elements. The old space was shaded by trees but prone to mud in wet weather and offered no seating.
“This was all dirt clods and uneven curbs, not safe at all, but it was the only shady place for them to wait,” Lillig said. “We tried a few things, like a canopy, but it just blew away. We realized we had to do something more substantial.”
The pavilion, which can accommodate about 25 people, was funded entirely by two anonymous donors from the parish at a cost of $140,000, which included landscaping, paving, a retaining wall and engineering work. MH Engineering donated its structural and engineering services. Randy Kirk, a local contractor, handled the interior remodel.
Inside, the pantry received new flooring, paint, ceiling tiles, LED lighting, windows and shelving. Doorways were widened to accommodate wheelchairs and shopping carts. Air conditioning and heating have been upgraded to improve functionality.
The interior work cost about $40,000, funded through community donations. Lillig said ReachOut has set aside roughly 10% of every donation for upkeep and maintenance, accumulating the funds needed for the renovation over the four years since she and McClintock took over leadership of the pantry.
A centerpiece of the renovation is an $8,000 commercial refrigerator donated through a grant from the American Heart Association. The refrigerator allows the pantry to extend the shelf life of fresh produce, which previously risked spoiling between weekly deliveries from Second Harvest Food Bank.
“We can make it through a whole week without having to throw things out,” Lillig said.
To complete the project, the pantry closed for about three and a half weeks in April and May. During the closure, staff posted information outside directing clients to other food resources in the area.
ReachOut serves about 450 families per month and is open Monday through Saturday, 1-2:30pm. The pantry operates as a program of St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, located at 17500 Peak Ave., and receives food through Second Harvest Food Bank and community donations.
