Food pantry hosts open house to show off bigger space

Sister Lucille Zerr, one of about 20 volunteers at the St. Mary Cathedral and Old St. Vincent its Food Pantry who hosted an open house Saturday at their new facility at 134 S. Sprigg St.

The pantry served 955 people last month and that number is expected to grow because the pantry's new location is more visible, said volunteer Donnie Shuck.

The pantry was previously in a house on Spanish Street near Old St. Vincent. It began operating at the new Sprigg Street facility on Aug. 31 and is open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays, serving more than 60 families each day, Shuck said.

Both volunteers and donations are needed to keep up with the increasing needs, he said.

In addition to the pantry, the building is also home to a new Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri Eastern Region office. Kyle Schott, a licensed professional counselor, has been named Eastern Region director and will offer case management and counseling services through Catholic Charities. While the office is in Cape Girardeau, Schott will serve Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, northern Scott and Madison counties.