The sun shone brightly on May 25 as St. Peter’s Community Pantry celebrated its first anniversary serving the Gloucester County community.
In May of 2023 at our first distribution, we provided food to 32 families in need. Today, on this first anniversary, that number was 120 families. Over this past year, we have distributed more than 50,000 pounds of food to those in need.
Since its inception, the mission of St. Peter’s Community Pantry has been to help those in the community who are facing food insecurity daily.
Our clients represent a cross section of the county’s population. They are of every race, of every age, and of every socioeconomic level. There are individuals, single parents, the elderly, those who have lost high paying jobs, those with health issues and physical handicaps.
All come to the Pantry seeking help from a non-judgmental community, which St. Peter’s Community Pantry provides.
The Pantry was designed not only to serve the community, but to be a source of volunteer opportunities within the County.
There has been a constant flow of volunteers since our opening day. They are individuals with a heart for our mission, or groups looking for a volunteer outlet.
We have seen volunteer nurses from Inspira, Girl Scouts and Boy Scout troops, sports organizations, and the Kingsway High School National Honor Society.
Our shelves, freezers and refrigerators have remained full, thanks in part to the generosity of the Zallie family Shop Rite of Woolwich, Wawa of Logan Township, and Heritage’s of Clarksboro.
We have continued the monthly food drives that were started during the Pandemic, and the response from the community has been overwhelming. We have received donations of food through special events such as “Trunk or Tree,” created by Kingsway student Jacob Hamaty, the Girls Scouts and Boys Scouts, the Patruno Soccer Club, employees of Raymour and Flanagan, Inspira, the Samuel Mickle School, the Olivet Elementary School, as well as neighbors in the Mickleton community who hosted their own drive.
Start-up money from Episcopal Community Services, and monetary donations from more individuals than we could name, as well as the Paulsboro Refinery, and the Little Red School House have provided funds used to purchase vegetables and fruit, eggs, milk, and butter for our clients every month, as well as allowing us to cover the expenses to run the Pantry.
St. Peter’s Community Pantry began with a conversation between three people that has grown into a remarkable community connection for those that volunteer and those whom we serve. St. Peter’s Community Pantry thanks everyone that has been a part of our remarkable journey. We look forward to many more Happy Anniversaries.
