Today is a shameless plug for God’s Pantry in Logansport, Louisiana. Oh, what’s that? You don’t live in Louisiana, so this article doesn’t apply to you? You’re going to skip to the editorial section? I’m pretty sure this food pantry in little ol’ northwest Louisiana is pretty much the same as the pantry right down the street from you. So don’t move on, the rest of the paper can wait. You, my friend, have got some learning to do.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, as of 2019, about forty million Americans struggle with food insecurity each year. Say, what’s that? Food insecurity is a household of limited or uncertain access to enough food to feed everyone in that household. Yikes!
The government, in its infinite wisdom, has created and now runs the Supplemental Food Nutrition Program (affectionately known as SNAP), where the recipients receive cards and use them at the grocery store to pay for food. The government also take care of the National School Lunch Program (no super cool acronym I’m afraid), providing free and subsidized meals for public and private school aged children.
That’s all well and good, don’t get me wrong. But I’m a big believer in community, as in taking care of our neighbors. So how do we as a community help these folks? That’s where soup kitchens, food banks, and food pantries come in.
Around 1870, soup kitchens became a staple in the United States--soup is cheap, filling, and easy to make in large quantities. Soup kitchens became crucial during the Great Depression. With over thirteen million Americans out of work, many relied on soup kitchens for their survival. Today, the soup kitchen remains an essential part of the community, a place for people to receive a free hot meal and a place to eat.
In 1967 the first food bank popped up in Phoenix, Arizona. They took items that the food industry couldn’t sell and put them into a food bank warehouse. Volunteers distributed the food to soup kitchens, food pantries, and other organizations. Food industry corporations received tax breaks for their contributions, which was very enticing. And soup kitchens cried “Hurrah!” because they had another source for food.
Food Pantries receive truck loads of food from food banks and private donors, distributing it all. Unlike meal programs, food pantries provide people with groceries for a bunch of meals, instead of one single hot meal. From my vast experience (i.e. three hours), I know they don’t randomly hand out food. Applicants must provide proof of residence and proof of income. These people definitely need the food!
And now my shameless plug for Logansport’s pantry. Wanda Fields started God’s Pantry over twenty years ago, and when she passed away in July 2023, her volunteers carried it on. Her niece, Kim Register, has taken up the torch and is learning the ropes so when the beautiful octogenarian ladies are ready to retire, Kim will take it all on. Which is why she recruited me, bless her heart.
Please go out into your community and champion your local food pantry. They need supplies and they need volunteers. If you can’t give of one, give of the other. I know our pantry needs ballpoint pens. Someone is walking off with them. Me—I am one of those someone’s.
Jann Goar Franklin graduated Russellville High School in 1985 and lives in Grand Cane, Louisiana. She also writes books, which are for sale at www.jannfranklin.com. You can reach her at jann@jannfranklin.com