Changes at LDS Home Storage Centers

Frustration!
May 1^st the LDS Home Storage Centers underwent a change, that after some time and understanding, I stood fully behind. Those volunteering at the Centers east of the Mississippi, and a few more select HSC, had been informed that after July 1^st there would no longer be any on-site canning available. Up to November 1^st, the bulk items they had on hand could be sold and the mobile sealers could be loaned out to patrons
to seal their bulk items. They were also told that after November 1^st all items received by the Home Storage Centers would be prepackaged, but the sealer and packaging items would still be available for patrons who might choose to re-package their items for longer term storage. For instance the prepackaged milk is now sold only in bags and has a shelf life of 2 years, if however that same milk is properly sealed for long term storage the shelf life extends to 20 years.

Like I said, I stood fully behind these changes. Having more items prepackaged and ready for easy pick up, would make it easier for me to help people see that this was a viable, inexpensive way to build their home stores, and more people could find themselves better prepared for whatever their personal emergency may be. Now, I’m reeling.

The new HSC Price List came out on November 1^st and no longer has listed any packaging items available for purchase. While the number of food items available has not changed, any options for re-packaging or purchasing and sealing your own (even off-site) are now off the table. I called my local HSC for confirmation and clarity...”Had I not understood properly? When did they learn that packaging items would not be available for purchase? What was the plan for the sealers on site available for patrons to borrow? There are still five items available for bulk purchase, how are they to be stored for the long term?” *Deep breath* The volunteers at my local HSC were notified 4 days before the change (four, F-O-U-R) that they were to sell off the remaining packaging items they had on hand and the sealers are now due to be sent back to Salt Lake City. There was an attempt to let as many patrons in the surrounding community know what was happening and the time table they had, but news doesn’t always spread the way one hopes and many patrons have been taken off guard by the more drastic than anticipated change. How to store the remaining five bulk items will be left up to each individual patron. Thank goodness for Mylar and Food Grade Buckets. (Perhaps that will be one of my upcoming posts…)

If I’ve left you with a ton of questions, Kellene Bishop, the Preparedness Pro has more insight about these changes.

I’ve learned over time that the Lord has his hand in our lives, and that “all things (eventually) work for the good of those who love Him”. I know that one day I’ll understand this better and perhaps even bless this change. I’m sure much of the free-fall I’m feeling has a great deal to do with the need to further educate myself to other (new-to-me) ways to build a variety filled home store on a budget. (Personal growth isn’t my favorite thing while I’m in the midst of it.)


Update: On December 5, 2013 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints released an Official Press Release on the changes at the LDS (Canneries) Home Storage Centers.