Stories of Hunger

Recent rain, sleet or snow couldn’t stop Red Star Food Pantry from getting food to those in need. A bizarre winter weather system traipsed through southeast Missouri on April 20, dropping springtime snow and sleet, but volunteers at Red Star Food Panty in Cape Girardeau bundled up and embraced the weather as they distributed food during the mobile food pantry.

Pantry Director Kevin Sexton started the distribution an hour earlier to get ahead of the impending snow, but the rain picked up just as the long line of cars started to shorten. Fortunately, more volunteers showed up to help get the food distributed more quickly.

Teen-agers Tiara and Katrina were two of those volunteers. Tiara volunteers frequently at Red Star Food Pantry and brought along her friend Katrina for extra help and to show her the food distribution process.

“It’s a good thing to help others out,” Katrina said. “I’ve donated stuff to people who need help, but I’ve never helped out at a food pantry so I’m helping people out here who don’t have anything.”

Tiara wants to set straight any misconceptions about people her age.

“I don’t want it to seem like all teen-agers are just lazy and spoiled. I want to help out, too,” she said. “I like to give back to the community, even though I don’t have much myself.”

Use Southeast Missouri Food Bank’s online pantry locator at semofoodbank.org to find a pantry near you to volunteer.