Local food pantry seeing more volunteers to feed those in need
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — During the summertime, a local food pantry said they see more people in need, meaning more volunteers are needed to keep up with the demand.
8 On Your Side did a story at the beginning of July to let people know of the need.
Now, organizers tell 8 On Your Side that around 35 more people have signed up to help.
Some people go running on Saturday mornings and some take classes, but the volunteers at Positive Impact Ministries are helping to feed the hungry.
“That’s a blessing, that’s a blessing. I wish I could tell the whole world because they’ve been blessing me,” said Angela Sheats, who visits every week.
The food pantry needed more hands on deck to pull off their Saturday operations and now they have more help.
“Your story, I heard it, I don’t know what day of the week it was, but that day I signed up, and the next day I was here,” said Sam Lazar-Bergstron, a new volunteer.
“During the summer, because we live in Florida, we have seasonal residents who leave and go up North, so that makes our need for volunteers even greater,” said Karen Rae, the Executive Director.
With kids out of school, families have more meals they need to provide.
“There’s a greater need for food during the summertime because children are out of school. So, those families that otherwise do not use our pantry services, during the summertime, they do, they have a need,” Rae said.
These volunteers spend hours setting up, making boxes of food, carrying them to your car, and sending you off with several meals.
“I hope they can continue doing what they’re doing because we need it, we definitely need it,” said David Rose, the first person in the line.
Some people wait hours in line, some even starting hours before the event begins.
“I’m not just here for myself, I’m here for other people, people that could not make it. I’ve been doing that 7 months being the first one here,” Rose said.
Everyone working in the hot sun to try and fill your fridge.
“It’s how it makes you feel to do for other people, that’s the whole thing,” Lazar-Bergstron said.
The food distribution event happens every Saturday at the Tangerine Plaza from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
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