So You Need to Get Food from a Food Pantry
The annual inflation rate has hit 8.5%.  We are all feeling it.  Last week, gasoline went up 30 cents a gallon in one day!  But some people feel it more than others.  If your income is very limited, one of the places where you have flexibility is in obtaining food.  Throughout the St. Louis area, you will find free food in Food Pantries.  Negotiating the rules and practices of Food Pantries can take some savvy.  Some Food Pantries are open a few hours a day most days.  Others are open once a week or every two weeks.  Some Food Pantries require you to live in specific zip codes and others admit anyone.  You can only pick up once a month from some Food Pantries; others you can pick up every day they are open.  Most Food Pantries have plenty of canned and dry food; others have some meats, eggs and milk and fresh fruits and vegetables..  At most Food Pantries, you stand in line, usually outside the pantry until it opens and then people are admitted in an orderly manner.  A few Pantries offer a hot meal once a week or morning coffee, juice and snacks as well as food pickup.  Some Food Pantries offer other services like referrals for utility or rental assistance, health screenings, and even flu shots in the fall.  How do people find out about Food Pantries?  Word of mouth is one way and lists of local Food Pantries are available. 

For reflection:  How would I feel about obtaining food from a Food Pantry?  If you are or were a worker in the Food Pantry, most of whom are volunteers, how do you view Food Pantry patrons? Is each one the person of Jesus Christ to be loved and served?   Interested in joining the Peace and Justice Ministry?  Call Saralou Hendrickson at 314-440-2020.
So You Need to Get Food from a Food Pantry
The annual inflation rate has hit 8.5%.  We are all feeling it.  Last week, gasoline went up 30 cents a gallon in one day!  But some people feel it more than others.  If your income is very limited, one of the places where you have flexibility is in obtaining food.  Throughout the St. Louis area, you will find free food in Food Pantries.  Negotiating the rules and practices of Food Pantries can take some savvy.  Some Food Pantries are open a few hours a day most days.  Others are open once a week or every two weeks.  Some Food Pantries require you to live in specific zip codes and others admit anyone.  You can only pick up once a month from some Food Pantries; others you can pick up every day they are open.  Most Food Pantries have plenty of canned and dry food; others have some meats, eggs and milk and fresh fruits and vegetables..  At most Food Pantries, you stand in line, usually outside the pantry until it opens and then people are admitted in an orderly manner.  A few Pantries offer a hot meal once a week or morning coffee, juice and snacks as well as food pickup.  Some Food Pantries offer other services like referrals for utility or rental assistance, health screenings, and even flu shots in the fall.  How do people find out about Food Pantries?  Word of mouth is one way and lists of local Food Pantries are available. 

For reflection:  How would I feel about obtaining food from a Food Pantry?  If you are or were a worker in the Food Pantry, most of whom are volunteers, how do you view Food Pantry patrons? Is each one the person of Jesus Christ to be loved and served?   

Interested in joining the Peace and Justice Ministry?  Call Saralou Hendrickson at 314-440-2020.