The Rev. Phil Honeycutt never wants to send someone away hungry when they visit the Community Food Pantry. He said that they are “here to help.” However, in recent weeks the pantry has experienced low donations.
“In the summer we got hit hard because the kids weren’t getting meals at school,” Honeycutt said.
The pantry’s shelves are starting to look bare in part because more people are qualifying for assistance from the pantry which is based on one’s income.
Jeri Waters keeps track of orders and donations at the food pantry. She and her husband Tom have been volunteering for a year and a half. She said that there has been an increase in clientele.
Waters said the Kansas Food Bank, Wichita, has added fresh produce to the items that can be donated to a food bank.
“We’ve never had it before,” she said. “We’ve been trying it and it’s been working very well.”
Walmart has been working with the pantry on donations through the Feed America program. If they have leftover produce they will donate it to the pantry quickly. Waters said people can even donate produce from their home gardens.
Both Honeycutt and Waters mentioned the large donation they received from the post office drive earlier in the year. They are trying to survive on that donation until Thanksgiving.
“Around Thanksgiving people will start bringing in more and more,” she said.
Until then they are working with what they have.
“We need items like pasta and canned meats,” Honeycutt said.
Since items are limited, donation boxes to clientele will become smaller.
“We’re cutting back on the size we’re sending with donations,” Waters said.
The food pantry is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. but if people know pastors who are part of the Ministerial Alliance they can give the items to them for the pantry.
“We need help right now,” Waters said. “It doesn’t matter what brand of food it is. Any food is appreciated.”
