Hunger isn’t just in third world countries, it’s right here in our own community.
You may not know Jerry—who’s 63-years-old with cancer—or Melissa, or James—who lost his mother and has mental health challenges—but they receive groceries at St. Vincent de Paul Louisville’s Food Pantry.
“Some of their stories are really heartbreaking,” said JoAnn Haner, a longtime volunteer. “And it’s not easy to take your groceries because they’re heavy … you may live on 8th street and it’s hard to get those there or you’re going on the bus.”
Nine out of ten times, clients don’t drive, so they walk several miles to the Food Pantry, which is in a former garage and warehouse on the SVDP campus. It serves our existing clients and those in the surrounding Smoketown and Shelby Park neighborhoods.
Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., clients receive fresh produce, frozen meats, poultry, fish, and pantry staples. This is all made possible because of the two dozen volunteers and influx of donations from Dare to Care, SVDP conferences, and individuals.
“A mere thank you is not enough for the individuals that give of their time in the Food Pantry every week,” said Donna Young, SVDP’s Director of Conference Affairs & Volunteer Services. “Those who make regular donations of perishable items are equally appreciated. The dedication to serving and feeding our guests is remarkable.”
For example, in March and April, Dare to Care donated a total of 36,019 pounds of food to our pantry, which is an estimated in-kind gift of $23,541.83.
“Our partnership with SVDP is so critical because it meets both of our missions and what we’re essentially looking to do is really to help all of our neighbors reach their full potential,” said Vincent James, CEO of Dare to Care. “They all have the opportunity to do that when you have organizations like St. Vincent de Paul.”
Food Pantry History
After a Dare to Care food bank closed in the Shelby Park and Smoketown area, it left quite a void for residents. In early 2014, Dare to Care approached SVDP about starting a Food Pantry. Upon visiting a variety of food pantries, where clients are handed a pre-packaged bag of groceries, the SVDP staff and board felt it would be best to give people a choice.
Clients are allowed to choose items depending on the day’s donations, giving them a degree of self-sufficiency.
SVDP also wasn’t sure they could get enough help, but nine years later, the Food Pantry is 100% volunteer run, and the majority of its original volunteers are still serving.
Volunteer Steve Hennessy has seen the Food Pantry take flight since it launched on July 1, 2014.
“When it initially opened, I think we thought we’d maybe feed 30 or 40 households per month,” Hennessey said.
The need to eat has been much greater.
Every month, more than 500 households get groceries at our Food Pantry, which is almost 20 times what Dare to Care estimated we would serve when we initially opened.
The statistics show that food insecurity touches everyone’s lives.
- The food insecurity rate in Jefferson County is 11.7% of the total population—or 89,690 individuals—and the child food insecurity rate is 16.2%—or 27,760 children.
- According to Feeding America, one in six children face hunger in Kentucky, and 41% of households receiving SNAP benefits have children. Only one in five Kentucky children who eat free or reduced price lunch during the school year have access to such meals during summer break.
- Kentucky has the highest rate of food insecurity among 50- to 59-year-olds at 17%, above the 11% national average.
- 67% of households receiving assistance from food banks in Kentucky said they had to choose between paying for utilities or food.
Food Pantry Process
We serve people with a variety of backgrounds, from toddlers to veterans to seniors (see the chart).
When clients arrive at the Food Pantry, they check in with a volunteer, hand them their ID, and must live in the 40203 zip code. The volunteer hands the client an SVDP Food Pantry card. They then get their groceries. For a client’s first visit, they receive USDA meats, fresh produce, and donated items. On their second visit in the same month, they can have produce and donated items. If they come again, they can only receive produce until the following month.
Kaaren Westlund has been volunteering at the Food Pantry for 5 years.
“I like serving people and the comradery with the group makes it fun,” Westlund said.
The cost—whether measured in donation dollars or volunteer hours—for a family to be able to sit around the dinner table and eat a well-balanced meal is worth it.
“Why do we do it?” said Deacon Scott Haner, a longtime volunteer. “There are people in need, and it’s like, I think you shouldn’t go to bed hungry at night. So we ask, ‘What can we do in some small way because we’ve been blessed?’”
If you would like more information about volunteering or donating to the Food Pantry, visit www.svdplou.org/get-involved/.
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