Scott County churches open food pantry

BENTON, Mo. -- A group of Scott County churches have united to offer a community food pantry to Benton-area residents.

The first food distribution of Jesus in Disguise Food Pantry will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton.

"This is a community food bank," said Lisa Spalding, assistant administrator of St. Denis Parish. "The purpose is to help our fellow neighbors in need."

St. Denis and its sister parish, St. Lawrence Church of New Hamburg, Mo., and two Benton churches, Unity Baptist and LaCroix Church Benton campus, make up the group providing the pantry.

"We are trying to serve the residents in the Scott County R-4 [Kelly] School District and Kelso C-7 School District," noted Rita Stuckey of the LaCroix Church Benton campus. "There isn't an organized food pantry for the Benton area."

Pantries in Scott City and Sikeston, Mo., and serve residents there.

The four churches have been collecting food items for the new pantry for several weeks.

"St. Denis hosted a food drive this past weekend, and it was very successful," Spalding said, adding the church also had a monthly collection for Jesus in Disguise.

Other groups have also collected items for the pantry.

On Tuesday, the Rev. Dennis L. Lowe, pastor of Unity Baptist Church, delivered to St. Denis more than 1,000 items collected for the pantry by students in the Kelly School District.

The need for the Benton-area food pantry is there, as local churches have encountered individuals seeking assistance for food, fuel and help paying their utility bills, the church members said.

"We take food out to families all the time," said Lowe, whose church has a pantry used on a need basis.

Lowe recalled recently delivering groceries to a young couple in the Benton area.

"Their little girl was so excited to get some milk, she said: 'Can I give you a hug?'" Lowe said.

Couples often work and make just enough money not to qualify for assistance, but not enough to cover all their needs expenses, Lowe said. That's where the food pantry can help, he said.