Local food pantries help with food insecurity

Making ends meet is a harsh reality that many people have in common these days. With a skyrocketing cost of living and costly basic essentials such as housing and child care some are left to wonder how to pay for other basic needs like food, which has also seen price hikes.

"Grocery prices are horrendous," said Harriet Zuroweste, Co-Chair for Bread for Life, a food pantry in Troy. "There's very little that you can buy as you go through one of our big grocery stores that is less than $5.00. When you have a family, maybe three teenagers and two small children and you're bringing home the same amount of money it just doesn't go far enough."

In May, 80% of Americans noted an uptick in the price of groceries, according to an Intuit Credit Karma report. In addition, Zuroweste says that a small bag of food that costs $100 today does not equate nor last as long as it did 10 years ago. Bread for Life typically serves around 400 people a month in the county while The Care Service Food Pantry in Elsberry serves 75 people per distribution day.

"We have seen an increase in the number of requests for assistance while at the same time donations have decreased," said Donna Tobin, director of development at The Care Service. “This pantry location is addressing food insecurity in the Lincoln County community which in Elsberry is exacerbated by the lack of a nearby, full service grocery store."

According to the Food Action and Research Center (FRAC), 1 in 8 households have had food insecurity or been without “access to an affordable, nutritious diet." With as many people as the food pantries see summer is one of the busiest times. Additionally, the time after Christmas and the months of March and April can also be hectic. For Bread of Life, some of their biggest clientele are people of older age and special needs that have community assistance.

Since 2021, Tobin says The Care Service Food Pantry has tripled their numbers with an expansion to St. Charles, the addition of Elsberry, and the mobile food pantry. "Securing donations to secure inventory for this increased demand is a challenge," she said. "The Care Service Food Pantry - Elsberry is one piece of our programs. It provides more than just nutritional support. Our pantries are designed so people can shop for their own groceries. We choose this format because it allows people to make their own choices."

A large portion of the food for Bread of Life, which has been around since 2003 is donated through food drives and individuals that bring food. The pantry also gets grants and financial contributions. Zuroweste says the food pantry's clients are from all over the county.

"People are very generous in this community," she said. "We're a nice place for you to help your neighbor. Something that is always in need and not only for people that are actually living in a home but for homeless people or people living in their car are foods that are like canned pastas."

Tobin says that the whole purpose of the food pantry in Elsberry is to change lives for the better. She says keeping the food pantry stocked can be a challenge due to transporting the food distributed which involves fuel cost and maintenance on the van and the increased price of food that has had an impact on what is available in their inventory. At this time of the year, Tobin says they are in need of skillet meals like helper-type meals, meat meals including canned chili, canned stews, and canned pasta, canned chicken, canned fruit, jelly and condiments including salad dressing. "Donors may be spending the same for food they donate, but it does not allow them to purchase as much food as it did just a year ago. We have seen a drop in both items and financial donations. Both are essential for us to help care for our community," she said.

Both food pantries serve residents in Lincoln County. The Care Service Food Pantry in Elsberry is open for distribution two Wednesdays each month from 10am-1pm. To verify distribution dates, please call 636-441-1302 or email info@jacares.org

Donations: www.jacares.org or mailed to their office at 4116 McClay Rd., St. Charles, MO 63304.

The Bread of Life Food Pantry in Troy is open every Wednesday from 10am-1pm except the last Wednesday of the month from 4-6:30 pm. Photo identification is required. For more information, go to troybreadforlife.com.

Local food pantry helps with food insecurity. (2024, August 24). The Lincoln County Journal© pages 1, 3