SPANISH FORT — Prodisee Pantry has revealed renovations and artwork additions that create a colorful environment for local families in need.
"We wanted to make this place bright, welcoming and friendly," said Randi Wilson, with Wilson Interiors, who worked as the project manager and designer.
Updates include improvements on the lobby, office spaces and warehouse with room remodeling and the addition of a variety of artwork. Several canvas paintings were added to the lobby area, and a full wall mural was painted in the warehouse.
"I wanted people to walk in the door and look at everything and see the bright colors and the fun animal prints and just put a smile on their face," Wilson said, "and give them a little bit of hope and happiness to make them feel like they're going to get the service they need."
Prodisee Pantry is a faith-based nonprofit community ministry providing emergency food and disaster relief, according to its website. It has provided food assistance over 210,635 times to Baldwin County families facing hardship stemming from job loss, medical expenses, natural disasters and other crisis. Those families can look like anyone — single parents, unemployed and under-employed households, families in transition, homeless, retirees and grandparents raising grandchildren.
Wilson said renovations started last November when she discussed with Deann Servos, executive director of Prodisee Pantry, how the lobby needed upgrading because of the awkwardness of the layout.
A large pole was in the center of the room making it inefficient for volunteers and visitors to move around and access certain areas. The lobby now has a support beam on the ceiling and is ADA accessible, as the pole blocked access and movement for those in wheelchairs.
"It was such a transformation that the board at that point came in and saw what we had done and was like, 'Oh my goodness, let's do the rest of the offices,'" Wilson said.
Once those upgrades started, Wilson said she noticed how "drab" the warehouse space was and set out to design an environment that would be sure to brighten anyone's day. Upgrades to the exterior of the building have also started and are expected to be completed within the next two weeks.
Wilson has been volunteering with the pantry for eight years and volunteered her time working with the upgrade project. She brought in her own contractors and received volunteer or discounted labor for all the renovations.
"Everyone that worked on this project is someone I work with in my business every day, so I feel really proud of that and the good people that I surround myself with in my circle," Wilson said. "It's nice to know I work with such a good group of people."
Wilson said her children also volunteer at Prodisee Pantry, making it a fun family experience as well.
"I'm just happy to be a part of the project and glad that even after I'm gone this is all going to live on," Wilson said, "and it's going to still be here and still going to be achieving that goal that we set out to achieve. It makes me smile."
An event was hosted by Prodisee Pantry to thank the contractors and artists who helped with the renovation project as well as present the progress and paintings to the pantry's board.
"We wanted to thank our contractors who helped bring this together," Executive Director Deann Servos said.
Baldwin County residents in need can visit a food distribution one time per month. Prodisee Pantry is open Tuesdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at 9315 Spanish Fort Blvd. and is open the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at Vaugh Elementary School in Stockton. Those who are interested in volunteering can fill out a form on the website at www.prodiseepantry.org/volunteer.
