By Jeff Small
St. Peters, MO (KSDK) - For the first time a St. Peters food pantry is facing a crisis. The pantry was recently left with empty shelves.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time area food pantries have faced a tough time getting food and other donations they need, but this is a bit more unusual and a lot more severe.
"We have empty spaces down here, spaces over there and usually we are packed to the gills I guess," said pantry coordinator Jan Hooker.
Hooker never imagined she and other volunteers would have to leave families waiting for food.
Instead of being able to help, Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service is suddenly in need of its own help.
"We actually ran out of produce, we ran out of dairy, we ran out of the bakery items, like all the fresh stuff," said Hooker.
The desperate situation started when the pantry got nearly half the amount of cans it would normally get from the annual boy scouts food drive.
Scouts collected 45,000 less food items this year. Food that could have gone to clients like Jennifer Mest and her three kids.
"I have always worked, always worked so I have never been out of a job and to be in this situation it's hard," said Mest.
Some clients consider the food pantry a sort of lifeline after losing their jobs and home.
"Thank goodness for Sts. Joachim and Ann because they made what we've been going through bearable and if it weren't for them I don't know where we would be," said Mest.
If you would like to help the food pantry, call Jan Hooker at 636-441-1302, ext. 262, or e-mail her jhooker@jacares.org.
KSDK
You Might Be Interested In