SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Prodisee Pantry’s efforts to conquer post-holiday apathy and restock the emergency food and assistance agency’s shelves got a little easier just days before the new year began.

Miami-based Dade Paper Co. donated a total of $100,000 Dec. 28 to the Spanish Fort-based pantry, Bay Area Food Bank and Ecumenical Ministries of Baldwin County to help offset costs associated with serving communities affected by the oil spill.

“We will be using it for operating costs, a.k.a. food,” said Deann Servos, the pantry’s executive director, of the $25,000 received. The nonprofit emergency food and disaster relief organization serves residents across Baldwin County.

“It has been a challenging year for our local communities,” said Bob Worch, general manager of Dade Paper’s Loxley operation. “By working together with these three fine organizations, Dade Paper can help make a difference.”

Meanwhile, Servos said the pantry’s “Building to Meet the Need” expansion project is “moving forward, albeit slowly.”

The organization announced in August that long-discussed plans to build an 11,000-square-foot facility needed to accommodate increased demand for services could proceed after local developer W. Allen Cox donated land along U.S. Highway 31 between Alabama Highways 181 and 59. White-Spunner Construction Inc. has estimated the project will cost roughly $1.5 million.

“We’ve written many grant requests for bricks-and-mortar,” said Servos, noting it’s simply a matter of waiting word from “several local foundations.”

Founded in 1939, Miami-based Dade Paper is the largest independent distributor of foodservice disposables, janitorial supplies and equipment in the eastern United States, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.