The Community Food Pantry is seeking new direction, a new director and new commitment from an army of volunteers, said Maria Bowser, chairman of the board of United Way of the Greater Miss-Lou.

Earlier this week, United Way board members agreed to accept the resignation of Theresa Beach, executive director of the pantry since its inception in 2006.

Today is Beach’s last day on the job. “I know one thing we’ve accomplished is that our community has become more aware of the need,” Beach said.

“When you serve 481 families in a month, and new people are coming all the time and other organizations are finding out about it, you know the awareness is there,” she said.

Beach leaves to pursue another job, but she leaves behind “big shoes to fill but also a very big heart,” Bowser said. “We appreciate her hours of dedicated work and wish her well in her new pursuits.”

The Rev. Bob Perkins, pastor of First Evangelical Methodist Church, has represented the Natchez Ministerial Alliance as organizer of the pantry.

He said Wednesday that his big push now is to “build a good base of volunteers.”

Perkins has had experience with food pantries in other locations and will lean on that experience, he said.

“We know it’s going to take time to get it where we want it to be,” he said.

The pantry, located in the former AB Motor building next door to Natchez Water Works on North Shields Lane, will operate under the auspices of United Way but with the support and consultation of the Natchez Ministerial Alliance.

Bowser said the pantry will continue to count on donations from churches, both food and funds.

“We’re moving forward. We’re going to find an interim director and put out an official search for a director,” she said.

“In the meantime, more than ever we will need the support of the ministerial alliance and the community to keep it running,” Bowser said.

Hours of operation will change from morning to afternoon, she said.

“We hope to increase the hours to include early evening, too. We think more people are able to come in the afternoon and more volunteers are available in the afternoon.”

Plans for the future role of the pantry include expanding to provide nutritional counseling, for one thing, Bowser said.

“We envision it growing into something that serves the needs of all the community,” she said.