The head of the Salem Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry says they are facing an emergency situation as usage soars and is expected to get much worse.
Carol Ann Short is asking for the public’s help to deal with the situation.
“Last year at the community center, we were seeing about 170 households visit per month,” Short said. “We have been here at Grace Methodist with the pantry since March. We have seen a steady incline, and now it’s much more drastic. Last month in September, we actually served 524 families through the pantry. Now it’s a matter of trying to figure out how to ration and keep up with demand.”
Short says you can help in several ways. Donating food, making a cash donations, or by volunteering to help at the pantry.
“We do get donations of food from Wal-Mart,” Short said. “They have been very generous. I’d say about 90% of the food we get is from Wal-Mart. We also have churches that collect food for us, just people in the community that will bring food in. Then we have partnerships through the Central Illinois Foodbank that bring in donations from Dollar General and from Casey’s. Last month we had to order from the foodbank for the first time, so that comes at a cost.”
While food is having to be rationed, Short says moving to the Grace United Methodist Church in March has opened up opportunities to help those utilizing the food bank in other ways.
“We have clothing that’s available. We also get items through a partnership with United Way and Walgreens called United We Give. Through that, we’ve gotten over-the-counter medicine and vitamins. We have personal care items, picture frames, greeting cards, household cleaners and things of that sort. It just really helps our families out so that if they can’t necessarily get all the food that they would like here, at least we can help offset costs with those items.
Short says the most needed items include mac and cheese, raman, cereal, peanut butter and jelly, canned tuna and chicken, beans, rice, soup, canned fruit and veggies, and pasta and sauce. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the Grace United Methodist Church at 116 East Schwartz from eight am to five pm Monday through Thursday or next Saturday between eight and noon. After hours, food can be left between the double doors of the church.
Monetary donations may be made via check to the Salem Ministerial Alliance, marked ‘pantry’, and mailed to Box 1312, Salem, IL 62881. Venmo payments may be made at @smaillinois.
If you have questions or would like to volunteer, you may call Short at 618-813-3316.
