Milton food pantry volunteer wins governor’s outstanding service award

Lawrence Bivens, president of the Milton Community Food Pantry, has earned the prestigious Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Service Award.

Since its opening 10 years ago, Bivens has dedicated himself to feeding neighbors in need through the Milton Community Food Pantry. Not only does he dedicate hours of service every day to the pantry, but also adapts his work to identify and fill new needs. He analyzes pantry operations constantly to improve its ability to thrive and serve clients. He found temporary operational space; he analyzed and improved traffic flow during food distributions; he identified maintenance issues with the new location and worked to resolve them; he always found a way to raise more money to fund the new facility and operations. Bivens is endlessly creative in solving pantry problems -- his positivity and good nature complement his leadership and analytical talents to the benefit of volunteers and clients.

Bivens’ leadership and many hours of daily hard work enabled the pantry to provide food to more than 9,000 individuals in 2023. He identified grant opportunities and submitted applications, and worked with major donors to obtain $300,000 in funding. Those monies were used to build and open a new distribution center to increase the pantry's capacity to serve the growing number of families and the elderly facing food crisis. This is the pantry's first dedicated location for handling and distributing food to clients. It has a large walk-in refrigerator and freezer, storage space for nonperishable items, and ample space for volunteers to sort and pack food.

Bivens was on site daily to monitor the project; he worked with contractors to make modifications to the building and property. While the new facility was under construction, Bivens was able to provide alternate space for the pantry to operate at his church. The pantry used the church property for food storage, packing and biweekly distribution to clients. Access to this location would not have been possible without Bivens’ advocacy and support.

The MCFP board members and volunteers are proud to also honor Bivens as he receives this well-deserved award and recognition from the office of Gov. John Carney.

For more information, to volunteer or to donate, go to miltonpantry.org.