Our food pantry has been in operation for nearly twenty years and has grown from being a small ministry run by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to a much larger enterprise assisted by several other churches. The first year of its operation, the pantry provided a total of 150 bags to those needing assistance.
Today the pantry distributes nearly 300 eight- to ten-pound food bags on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The food is purchased primarily from America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. We also receive donations of bread from the Panera Bread Co. as well as other occasional institutional gifts and various canned goods our parishioners donate.
The work of packing and distributing the bags is done by volunteers from St. Paul’s. The pantry operates from its own building on the grounds of St. Paul’s. The recipients of our efforts are largely elderly and mostly from the inter-city. Our bags are intended as a supplement to those trying to make ends meet from month to month. At the present time, it costs us about $1,000 to distribute 600 bags a month. We are always looking for volunteers to help us pack bags as well as to distribute them. Bags are packed at the pantry at noon on the second and forth Sundays before distribution.
The actual distribution hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. We also appreciate any contributions toward the work of this important ministry. If you want to volunteer or have any questions, please call the Church Office at 912-232-0274.