Food pantries open and serving; need support and healthy volunteers

March 20, 2020

Most local food pantries are remaining open to help food-insure families through the COVID-19 closures and shortages.

Donations of non-perishable food items can be made anytime to the majority of the county’s local food banks. Suitable donations include canned tuna, chicken and salmon; pastas of all kinds; dried beans, peas, lintels and rice; low-sugar cereals; applesauce, fruit cups and canned fruit cocktail in light syrup; and low-sodium canned veggies.

The Alto Food Pantry continues to operate out of The Chaparral Center’s location, 176 W. San Antonio St., Alto.

Other food pantries serving Cherokee County residents include:

• Wells Interfaith Pantry, 130 N. Rusk St., Wells, which is holding Vegetable Day at The River Church on Wednesday, March 25 and Pantry Day at the Pantry on Thursday, March 26;

• Rusk Cares - Good Samaritan, 190 Second St., Rusk, will distribute food boxes 9-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 25. Food will be prepackaged and clients will receive the same or similar basic items. Clients are asked to remain in their vehicles and a volunteer will bring food boxes to them.

• River of Life Christian Center, 677 S. Dickinson St., Rusk;

• HOPE’s Manna Pantry, 595 S. Ragsdale St., Jacksonville, is still serving clients, but are asking clients to have only one representative from each household receive food or other services as to be able to decrease the number of people and interactions. The Kitchen of HOPE has suspended serving hot lunches, but is offering sack lunches at the Kitchen door, 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Monday to Thursday.

• The Clothes Closet & More, 314 S. Main St., Jacksonville, continues serving sack lunches. Come to the front door Friday and Saturday to pick them up.

• Society of St. Stephens UMC, 1031 SE Loop 456, Jacksonville; and

• Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 1023 Corinth Rd., Jacksonville.