GALLIPOLIS — For his work with the food pantry at Vinton Baptist Church, David West has been named the 2009 Community Hero in the “Everyday Heroes” recognition program sponsored by the Gallia County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

West received his award, sponsored by Ohio Valley Bank, today at a breakfast held at the Gallia County Senior Resource Center honoring the first set of “Everyday Heroes.”

One of the ministries of the Vinton Baptist Church to help meet the needs of the community is a food pantry.

The food pantry is open every Monday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Food is provided to about 120 families each month. The pantry is supplied and operated by volunteers. West is the food pantry coordinator.

He works tirelessly going to the stores to purchase food, keeping the pantry shelves stocked, boxing the food and then being there every Monday to oversee everything. Dave has been working with the food pantry for the last 3-1/2 to 4 years and has a team of about 45 volunteers that help to keep the food pantry up and running every Monday.

Dave works with schools, 4-H groups, businesses and individuals to solicit and accept donations for the food pantry.

As the coordinator of the food pantry, Dave said he donates about 15 to 20 hours per week and he is very proud that the food pantry was able to serve over 1,100 families in 2008. Dave said he has seen an increase in the need for food in the community in the current economy and people seem to always need to talk to someone about Christ, which is another role the volunteers help to fill.

“It’s only through God that we are able to do this,” he said.

Dave also commends the 45 volunteers who work with the pantry program. He says the volunteers are extremely faithful and if it wasn’t for them, there wouldn’t be a food pantry.