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People line up for the free monthly food distribution on June 15 at Glen-Ed Pantry. Jane Ahasay, director of development for the pantry, said that 230 families were served, providing food to 580 people.
People line up for the free monthly food distribution on June 15 at Glen-Ed Pantry. Jane Ahasay, director of development for the pantry, said that 230 families were served, providing food to 580 people.
The St. Louis Food Bank provides 10 pallets of various food items for the food distribution held on the third Wednesday of each month at Glen-Ed Pantry.
People line up for the free monthly food distribution on June 15 at Glen-Ed Pantry. Jane Ahasay, director of development for the pantry, said that 230 families were served, providing food to 580 people.
People line up for the free monthly food distribution on June 15 at Glen-Ed Pantry. Jane Ahasay, director of development for the pantry, said that 230 families were served, providing food to 580 people.
The monthly food distribution continues at Glen-Ed Pantry, and these days, it’s busier than ever.
The event is held on the third Wednesday of each month, when the pantry receives 10 pallets of various food items from the St. Louis Food Bank. The food is lined up on the parking lot.
Everyone is welcome to come and go through the line and select the food they would like. On June 15, the pantry distributed apples, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, frozen peas, shredded cheese, as well as other food items.
The event is staffed with volunteers who help move the refrigerated foods in and out of the cooler and freezer, and they distribute the food as well as set up and tear down.
Jane Ahasay, director of development for Glen-Ed Pantry, said that 230 families were served, providing food to 580 people. The food is given away and is at no cost to the participants.
“We had an increase at the beginning of the pandemic but then people started getting the extra SNAP or food stamp benefits plus the stimulus checks and extra unemployment benefits,” Ahasay said. “We saw another increase after a lot of the unemployment benefits ended.
“But the last two months, with gas prices and food prices rising as much as they have, we’re seeing people who needed the resources of the pantry two or three years ago coming back to us. They were making it, but they need assistance again.”
Ahasay added that the pantry is seeing more people who have never needed assistance before.
“Their kids are home from school for the summer, and when you’re living from paycheck to paycheck and you suddenly have a huge bump like that, that’s a big adjustment,” Ahasay said. “Those people need assistance as well.”
Ahasay added that the pantry is starting to run low on certain food items, which is not uncommon for this time of the year.
“We are not on peoples’ minds as much as we are during the holidays, and we need food year-round,” Ahasay said. “In November, we have the big Boy Scouts food drive, which is wonderful for us. During the holidays, people are in the giving spirit, and they often include the food pantry.
“We’re so thankful for that, but now it’s six months later and we’re feeding more people and our shelves are getting emptier.”
Ahasay noted that on the fourth Saturday of each month, the pantry has a $5 bag sale, when the clothing and housewares section is open to the public and people can get a bag full of clothing for a $5 donation.
“That’s another resource for people during these difficult economic times,” Ahasay said.
Glen-Ed Pantry is located at 125 Fifth Ave. in Edwardsville. To learn more about the pantry or to make a donation, visit https://www.glenedpantry.org/ or call 618-656-7506.
The pantry is open from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.