Thanks to the community, the Christian Love Pantry has a wide variety of food to help St. Clair County residents in need.

“A little variety is nice,” said volunteer Brenda Sims.

Sims said thanks to a recent donation from local post offices, and use of the United Way food bank, the Christian Love Pantry is able to offer a good selection of food items.

“We have several things new this time,” she said. “We have fresh bread, grits, hominy, canned chili, and more.”

Sims said she saw one client who was so delighted to get fresh bread the person ate a slice on the way to the car.

Mike Carr, director of Christian Love Pantry, said the Pell City and Cropwell post offices recently donated 8,233 pounds of food.

“We received 7,318 pounds from Pell City, and 915 pounds from Cropwell,” he said. “The previous largest food drive was 3,500 pounds, back in 2005.”

Carr said this year’s post office food drive netted three times the amount of food as last year.

“We want to thank the postal workers for getting the information out to our community and the extra effort it takes them to pick up all the food, and also thank the community for taking the time and caring enough to respond to the food drive,” he said.

Jan Swain, postmaster for the Cropwell post office, said the post office workers put out cards letting the community know about the one-day food drive.

“The people left canned goods at their mailboxes, and we collected them,” she said.

Swain said she thinks the Cropwell post office saw about a 75 percent increase on food donated compared to last year.

“We are very pleased with that,” she said. “We are glad the food stays in this community, because it was collected in this community, and want to thank everyone for participating.”

Volunteer Debbie Fulwood said the Christian Love Pantry can always use volunteers.

“I brought my neighbor with me one day,” she said. “My neighbor was interested in volunteer work, and decided to volunteer here.”

Volunteer Donna Sargent said she became involved in volunteering through her daughter.

“It is a local mission,” Sims said. “It also gives us a chance to meet and make new friends.”

Sims said with a team of 3-4 volunteers, there is flexibility with scheduling. People 18-years-old and older can volunteer, and training is provided.

“It is not like you have to be here—you want to be here,” she said.

Fulwood said it is nice to know the people helped are from the local community.

“There are definite needs in St. Clair County, but the community comes together to help out,” Sims said. “It makes me proud to go outside St. Clair County and share and witness about what we do here. It gives us a sense of pride.”

Sims said “paying it forward” is also something volunteers see.

“You see people who came in with a need, and 6-8 months later they will bring in groceries because things are better for them now,” she said. “They appreciate the help, and want to ‘pay it forward’ to help others.”

Fulwood said some individuals who received help from the Christian Love Pantry have become volunteers themselves.

“Everyone has a different story, and sometimes you get to hear their stories,” she said.

Sargent said volunteers offer the services with tact and compassion.

“We try to tell people it’s just a matter of time before things change,” she said. “Whether it is six hours, six weeks, or six months, things will change.”

The Christian Love Pantry food list includes oatmeal, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, Treet (meat similar to Spam), spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, tuna fish, Tuna Helper, Vienna sausage, grits, juice, tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, jelly, soup, pork and beans, mayonnaise, beef stew, corn, fruit, rice, flour, corn meal, crackers, apple sauce, and ramen noodles.

For more information or to donate, call Carr at 205-527-4217 or the Christian Love Pantry at 205-338-2358. Checks may be made payable to Christian Love Pantry and mailed to 205 Edwin Holliday Place, Pell City, AL 35125.