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Serving Neighbors in Need

 

Arnold Food Pantry is a 501(c) (3) charity, assisting families and individuals in need who reside in Arnold and portions of Imperial and Fenton. The pantry distributes supplemental food, household necessities and toiletries donated by a generous community. 

 

In addition, the pantry accepts back-to-school supplies for it's clients, and shares any over abundance of food items with other area food pantries.

 

When able, the pantry provides information on other charities, agencies. or persons that may be able to provide additional assistance. 

PANTRY NOT JUST ABOUT FOOD

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The Pantry does more than just provide supplemental food to families and individuals experiencing hunger and poverty in our communities. Arnold Food Pantry also assists neighbors in need with household necessities, tolietries (and even pet food.when available). 

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Just a few of the other ways the pantry helps:

  • Providing some back-to-school supplies and assists clients with enrollment to receive free back-to-school supplies from other sources.

  • Inviting representatives in to to help clients navigate the healthcare system and Social Services.

  • Offering free flu and pneumonia shots to clients thanks to the generousity of Walgreens.

  • On-site representatives to provide information on nutrition, budgeting, meal planning, sources of help with utility bills, WIC's program, and a variety recources from of Human Service agencies that can be of help to those facing economic crisis.

  • Providing Easter baskets to client children, and enrolls them in Toys for Tots at Christmas.

  • Sharing excess perishables with several other food pantries.

  • Giving perishables deemed unfit for human consumption to farmers for composting and feed for farm animals.

History of the Arnold Food Pantry 

 

Thirty years ago Tom Dolan had an idea to help alleviate hunger in our community. Tom Dolan, Larry Guthmiller and others convinced their church to allow them to use a small space next to a furnace room to store donated canned goods to help feed the hungry.  Providing food for our community’s less fortunate has evolved from delivering canned goods to a few to feeding over 300 families per week. The Arnold Food Pantry today serves the less fortunate in most of the C-6 Fox school district, including regions of Imperial and Fenton. With 3 vans, food pick-ups are made at Schnucks, Dierbergs, Shop’n Save, Wal-Mart, Target, Trader Joes, Starbucks, St. Louis Bread Co., and many other restaurants throughout the St. Louis area.  The Arnold Food Pantry volunteers stock the shelves7 days a week because hunger never takes a day off.  The Pantry is now recognized as the largest non-denominational food distribution center in the St. Louis area that receives no government funding. 

 

Today many area churches, public and parochial schools have the Arnold Food Pantry as their biggest yearly community service project. The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Postal Carriers annual food and toiletry drives provide mountains of donated items.  These donated items come from the community and aid in the Arnold Food Pantry’s goal to succeed in wiping out hunger.

 

You can be a part of something that together is more powerful than anything you could ever do alone.   

  

By donating to the Arnold Food Pantry, you will help over 300 families a week to never go to bed hungry. 

Mission Statement

 

The mission of the Arnold Food Pantry is to assist and provide supplemental food to the needy in Arnold, and portions of Imperial and Fenton that have been impacted by financial problems by such things as a unemployment, divorce, disability, health, domestic violence, homelessness, disaster, aging and rising cost of living. We gather, store, and distribute goods to those who find themselves in time of special need and crisis. Our mission is based on compassion and we respect the dignity of each person we serve. The Arnold Food Pantry and Thrift Store seek to collaborate with those who share our values and our mission. 

Board of Directors

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Phil Amato-President

Edward Fitzhenry, Vice President, Attorney

Tom Bourgeois-Treasurer, Business owner

Vernon Sullivan-Secretary, School Supervisor, retired

Butch Cooley-Arnold City Councilman

Art Kasey, Educator, retired

Pat Moore, Computer software instructor, retired

Larry Guthmiller-Board member emeritus

 

Staff

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Executive Director

Ed Fitzhenry

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Food Operations Manager

Michelle Crump

 

Thrift Store Manager

Pamela Rayburn

Assistant Store Manager

Dianne Cavander

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The Arnold Food Pantry 990 form can be viewed at the Pantry or check here.  EIN # 431284008

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