The Rev. Steve Lawler says this the food pantry at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church was already important to the community before the August 9 shooting death of Michael Brown but the violence that followed caused the pantry to shut down just when local residents needed them the most. But now the pantry in serving more people than ever.
The violence of the past two weeks exacerbated this already difficult situation. With many stores closed, families have been unable to obtain food and other essential items. Unable to restock its shelves, the food pantry at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church also was forced to close in the days immediately following Brown’s death.
Thanks to hundreds of donations from individuals and groups, however, the pantry is now back up and running.
“Our parking lot was pretty much full with folks showing up and getting food,” Lawler said Tuesday. “Today has been our best day yet for food distribution.”
In addition, the church has been coordinating with other local churches and food pantries to make sure supplies get to the community, and it has sent sandwiches, bottled water, granola bars and other items to the site of the protests, about two miles away on West Florissant Avenue.