FINDING FOOD: WHERE TO GO IN TIMES OF NEED

Billie Roth, telephone chairperson for the FISH Volunteers of Cape Girardeau, stacked donated food in the pantry at 106 S. Sprigg St.

For people who don't know where their next meal is coming from, food pantries in Cape Girardeau and Jackson offer a place to turn.

The food pantries supply varying amounts of aid and services, but each is committed to helping those in need.

The Salvation Army located on 701 Good Hope in Cape Girardeau helps more than 100 families a month. They supply basic staples, such as canned foods and boxed foods.

Capt. Robert Gauthier said the Salvation Army asks people who need help for their address, proof of income and social security numbers for each family member.

The Salvation Army food pantry is open 1-4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Families can come into the Salvation Army food pantry six times a year.

The Salvation Army relies on donations to fill their shelves. Three food drives -- the Boy Scouts' Scouting for Food drive, the postal workers' food drive and the Salvation Army Holiday of Lights campaign -- help keep the pantry full.

The Salvation Army also participates monthly in the distribution of government commodities such as canned meats and beans. The commodities vary from month to month.

Monetary donations are used to purchase food for the pantry and fill in gaps between food drives.

The Jackson Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry is located in Cox Memorial Hall on High Street next to New McKendree United Methodist Church. The food pantry is on the second floor.

The Rev. Richard Northcutt, associate pastor at New McKendree United Methodist Church, is director of the food pantry.

"We're not very long on rules," Northcutt said. "One of the reasons we don't have many rules is because we don't have any government assistance."

The pantry is supported by the Area Wide United Way, Scouting for Food, food drives conducted by area churches and individual donations.

The pantry is open in the morning and afternoon Monday through Friday. Northcutt added that the pantry serves people from the area, not just people in Jackson.

Each month, the Jackson food pantry distributes between $1,000 and $1,800 worth of food. Some months are heavier than others.

"We provide the bare essentials as much as we can," Northcutt said.

People in need can use the Jackson Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry services once a month.

FISH Volunteers of Cape Girardeau are located at 106 S. Sprigg St. They are open from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.

FISH past president, the Rev. William Burke, said the completely volunteer organization tries to give out meals, not just food.

FISH supplies frozen meat as well as canned and boxed foods.

FISH also works through the Salvation Army to provide transients with gasoline and bus tickets.

Utilities and prescription drugs are also paid for by FISH for people in need.

FISH relies on individual, church and corporate donations as well as United Way funding to help the needy.

Local churches also provide relief for families in need.

Each of these food pantries requires monetary donations as well as food donations to continue their works of charity.

The Boy Scouts Scouting for Food drive will be held Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. Scouts will distribute bags to homes and return a week later to collect food for area food pantries.