By Laura Grisham
WALLS – The renovations at the Father John Flanagan Catholic Center in Walls, commonly known as the Flanagan Center, are finally complete – and the facility is now open for business.
On Jan. 15, the final client files were transferred, and new office furniture was moved in, marking the completion of a much-needed overhaul. Plans for the remodel began in 2021, with more than 20 layout changes carefully finalized over two years before construction commenced in May 2023.
Over the years, the Flanagan Center has served many purposes, including operating as a thrift store, locker rooms for Sacred Heart High School, office spaces, and a food pantry. Today, it houses Sacred Heart Southern Mission’s main food pantry operations, the Volunteer Program staff, Walls Social Services, and the HIV/AIDS program.
The ever-growing demand for food assistance made increased cold storage a necessity. Since 2016, SHSM’s annual food distribution has surged from 280,068 pounds to nearly 1.4 million pounds by 2022. Initially, the plan was to add a second walk-in freezer, but further discussions led to an even better solution.
By reimagining the building’s footprint, SHSM developed a new, more efficient layout. While the original walk-in freezer remains, the rest of the space has been completely transformed – to the delight of employees and clients alike. The former disjointed maze of offices and storage spaces has been replaced with a welcoming reception and waiting area, complete with a public restroom. A series of private offices for social workers and volunteer staff now occupy the front of the building, while a spacious breakroom/conference room serves as a hub between the office space and the state-of-the-art food pantry in the back.
The renovations also expanded the building by more than 1,150 square feet – allowing for the installation of a massive new refrigerator/freezer unit. The new cold storage space measures 48 feet by 24 feet, with 36 feet designated for freezer storage and the remaining 12 feet for refrigeration. Double-wide, 54-inch doors enable full pallets of food to be easily moved in and out using pallet jacks. Additionally, approximately 3,000 square feet of dry goods storage has been incorporated, along with a backup generator to maintain refrigeration during power outages.
These upgrades have nearly quadrupled our food storage capacity, ensuring we can meet the growing needs of our communities for years to come. The newly designed Flanagan Center provides a spacious, welcoming environment for clients and staff alike, further strengthening our mission to serve those in need.
Since 1942, Sacred Heart Southern Missions – through the generosity of volunteers and donors – has provided essential services to individuals and families living in poverty. Our outreach includes six parishes, two Catholic elementary schools (the only ones in northwest Mississippi), six social service offices, an HIV/AIDS ministry, a volunteer program, housing assistance, a thrift store, a soup kitchen and six food pantries that serve thousands each year. With the newly renovated Flanagan Center, we are better equipped than ever to continue our mission of sharing God’s love and mercy with those in need.
(Laura Grisham is the PR and Communications manager for Sacred Heart Southern Missions in Walls, Mississippi.)