Two church-affiliated food pantries in Wright City say they are dedicated to continuing service for those in need, however they can.

The Wright City Community Food Pantry and First Baptist Church food pantry ministry can’t allow clients through their doors during the statewide stay-at-home order. But that didn’t stop them from distributing food on weekends this month using more ‘socially distant’ methods. Organizers from both pantries told The Record they’ve adopted a drive-thru model to continue their monthly operations.

The Community Food Pantry, a nonprofit located at the Church of the Nazarene, serves clients twice per month. Pastor Joe Purl, who heads the pantry, estimated there has been a 30-percent increase in the number of clients since mid-March. He said the pantry has support to meet that need, but ‘social distancing’ has been an adjustment.

“Usually, we’re very client-oriented. We’re like a grocery store, where volunteers walk clients through the shelving, and they’d be able to pick out what they want,” Purl commented. “We’re not able to do that right now. So in a drive-thru format, (clients) check off the basics of what they want and we’ll have a volunteer fill that order.”

The Community Food Pantry is open the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon, or by appointment.

But just handing out food doesn’t completely fulfill the mission of the pantry, Purl said. Usually, clients meet with someone who can help connect them with resources to restore some stability to their lives.

“We help them with jobs, we talk to them about relationships, health issues, housing issues, issues that they’re having that are creating instability,” Purl said. “All that is put on hold right now. Our main focus is just keeping them stable with food ... and other essential resources.”

Those who need to reach out can still call the pantry by phone, and from there be connected with other resources, Purl said.

Donations from the community and area businesses have increased to match the need of their neighbors, he added.

Across town, organizers at First Baptist Church are rethinking how to collect donations for the church’s food ministry. Team leader Cheryl Lambright said donations were previously dropped off at Sunday church services, before those were put on hold. Now, volunteers have to coordinate drop-off times with donors.

“Give me a call for donations, and one of us will meet you,” Lambright said. Her number is (636) 698-8899.

Team members have also used Facebook and flyers in stores to solicit donations, she said.

The First Baptist pantry is open the third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon. Lambright anticipates food donations will continue to keep up with need.

“We’re not as big as some food pantries, but God provides what we need, and we have always met the need every Saturday we’ve been open,” she commented.

But there again, boxing food into the back of a car doesn’t completely fulfill that food pantry’s mission in the community. Connecting with clients, building relationships and being with them in prayer are all part of what volunteers at the church are there for, Lambright said.

“You can give people food all you want, but there are people who are hurting deep inside, and just need to know that somebody is there to listen to them, and befriend them, and not look down upon them,” she said.

Organizers at both pantries said they’ve had to be careful of how many volunteers they bring in on days they serve clients. They’ve rearranged food handling to minimize how many are in close contact with one another.

It’s hard to guess how long the COVID-19 restrictions will last. But the pantries’ caretakers have faith that the Good Lord, and their neighbors in Wright City, will continue to provide.