That's the Way

As strong as our area gluten-free community is, one thing that's been missing is a gluten-free food pantry. Enter Heather Gannon. As she tells it at The Rachel Way website:

In 2013, my daughter Rachel became ill. After many doctors and tests with no answers, she was healed after eliminating gluten and dairy from her diet and continues to eat that way today.

After an unsuccessful and overwhelming trip to the grocery store, I enrolled in an integrative nutrition school and became a certified health coach to help other families deal with food sensitivities. Starting this non-profit food pantry is our way of giving back to our community.

The gluten-free and diary-free food pantry opens this Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Church on the Mall (Room 8) at the Plymouth Meeting Mall (500 W. Germantown Pike). Hours that day are from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., after the Strides for Safe Kids Food Allergy Walk & Expo. The pantry will also be open on Sept. 17 and 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In October, the pantry will be open on Oct. 3, 6, 17 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additional opening hours will be posted at the website and on the pantry's Facebook page.

Donations can be made Mondays through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church office and during pantry hours. Accepted gluten-free food brands include Glutino, Udi's, Enjoy Life, Schar, Bob's Red Mill, Larabar and Chex cereals.