SCOTT CITY FOOD PANTRY OPENS

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- The shelves are far from bare at the food pantry in Scott City, and the canned goods are spilling over onto the floor.

Boxes of canned goods, sorted by type of vegetable, are stacked along the walls, in a closet, on top of tables and around the floor waiting for space to open on the shelves at the Scott City Ministerial Alliance's Food Pantry.

Scott City residents can stop by the pantry at 806 Main St. for extra food from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays.

Patrons are limited to one visit a month until the alliance can determine the need, said the Rev. Larry Lawman, ministerial alliance president.

Spirit of cooperation

As the economy shifts and people are in need, the ministerial alliance wanted to be ready to help. There were several churches operating their own pantries in town, but the new pantry combines resources and offers a central location, said the Rev. Joe Hudson of the Wesleyan Church.

"There's been a good spirit of cooperation among the churches in town," Hudson said.

The idea for a food pantry program began in the summer but took some planning and organization tips from the ministerial alliance in Jackson, Mo. The pantry opened on Tuesday with one patron. More are expected as word gets out in town, said Lawman.

The project has been a community effort. All the canned food were donated by churches or Boy Scout troops in Scott City, Kelso, Mo., and New Hamburg, Mo. A collection from the teachers from Scott City schools also helped fill shelves.

The building space, situated behind the offices for the Scott City Chamber of Commerce and Historic Preservation, was donated, as were tables, a desk and chairs. Two accountants in town donated their services for bookkeeping and audits.

A bank set up a checking account for the alliance and an insurance agency paid for a liability policy.

"It could have been easy not to do this because it's bigger than what we can afford, but it shows what happens when we depend on God to do it," Lawman said.

There are some things the ministerial alliance needs:

* Signs for the doors

* Shopping carts

* Shelving units

* Small electric heater for use during the winter.

* Baby food and diapers.