The Christian Appalachian Project held an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 01, 2026 for an expanded food pantry in Jackson County, giving children, families and seniors greater access to groceries, household supplies and more efficient service.
The donor-funded, 4,200-square-foot facility is more than three times the size of the former 1,248-square-foot building. It includes a customer shopping area, warehouse storage and a covered drive-thru.
The expansion comes as Jackson County continues to face high levels of hunger. Feeding America estimates that about one in five county residents is food insecure, meaning they do not consistently have enough food for an active, healthy life.
Pantry participant Ken Parker called the new facility “a beautiful space” as he filled a cart with cabbage, eggs, shelf-stable foods and laundry detergent. “We are blessed to have this here,” Parker said.
CAP President and CEO Jennifer Stolo said the larger pantry reflects the organization’s commitment to addressing food insecurity with practical support and respectful service.
“Food insecurity continues to affect far too many of our neighbors in Appalachia, and this pantry represents CAP’s ongoing commitment to meeting that need with compassion, dignity, and practical support,” Stolo said. “Because of the generosity that made this space possible, families and seniors in Jackson County will have greater access to the food they need.”
Nearly Four Decades of Service
The pantry traces its roots to 1986, when local churches, volunteers and residents established the Jackson County Food Bank as an emergency response to hunger. CAP later became a partner, helping the community operation continue and grow.
Joyce Marks, a founding board member and longtime volunteer director, led the pantry for nearly four decades. With support from her husband, Melvin Marks, and other family members, she became a prominent local advocate for hunger relief.
Before her death, Marks helped establish a partnership with CAP intended to preserve the pantry’s mission and community roots. The new facility continues that work while expanding the program’s reach.
Her daughter Jenny Parker now serves as pantry coordinator. Parker’s sisters, Gloria Margison and Mary Brockman, volunteer at the pantry, while their brother, John Marks, is vice president of JMBA Inc., the company that built the new facility.
At the most recent meeting of the Jackson County Fiscal Court, Judge Paul Hays along with Magistrate Danny Todd, Magistrate Garvin Baker, and Magistrate Dale Vaughn voted approval to rename a portion of McCammon Ridge Road leading to the Food Bank in honor of Joyce Marks.
Volunteers Support the Move
Volunteers from Living the Word Church in Bethel, Ohio, helped transfer food from the original building, organize the warehouse and stock shelves and refrigerators before opening day.
The church has partnered with the pantry for several years. Members return annually with volunteers and a trailer of donated goods.
“We’re so glad to have a hand in this transition,” said Ashlee Scheadler, the church’s missions and outreach director. “I know [Joyce] is looking down from Heaven smiling on all that has been done here.”
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