"I saw how they were able to do intake and network, I was just impressed so much," he recalled. His prayers were answered. On Friday, both agencies officially merged their operations in hopes of better serving the needs of low-income families in the county. The organization has been officially renamed Agape Ministry of Warren County. "It clearly is in line with our mission to help the hungry, hurting and homeless of Warren County," said Purcell, Agape executive director. "It allows us to expand our mission in a direction which is clearly in line with what we do." Representatives from both agencies signed a resolution binding the pantries together Friday, Oct. 31, at First State Community Bank in Wright City. To kick off a fundraising campaign, First State also donated $1,000 to Agape from each of its branches in Warrenton and Wright City. The Wright City pantry has been operated by the Wright City Neighborhood Churches, a group consisting of area ministerial leaders, in the basement of Open Hearts Church on Bell Road. The pantry has been in existence since the 1980s. Agape Ministry will continue to be under the leadership of Purcell. She has been with Agape for six years. The organization will be overseen by a 15-member board of directors, six of whom are from Wright City, Purcell said. She also noted the board will increase to 16 with another member from Wright City. The Wright City pantry is currently run by a dedicated group of volunteers, Purcell said. The benefit of the merger will be in providing the Wright City location an administrative and organizational infrastructure. Purcell said service for the hungry will be unchanged, but resources will be shared between both offices. "We can see the potential there," she said. "We can see what they can be if they have a little support." Purcell said the merger was initiated by the Wright City Food Pantry as it realized the need for more resources as it continued to grow. Wright City currently feeds 450-550 people a month; Warrenton feeds 650-750 people. "Food pantries have to be supported by their communities," Purcell said. "If the communities don't share in the mission and support their mission, then what is the point of the mission? The food pantries are the physical manifestation of the goodwill of the community. If the community is not involved, they will not be successful." Kraus, a pastor at Open Hearts Church and Wesley Smith Chapel United Methodist churches in Wright City, hopes the merger can strengthen the bond between the two communities. "It gives us potential," he said. "We need to work together . . . Agape is trying to help people, like how they can get out of poverty and find jobs. We are all tied together in this." Once both pantries get through the Christmas season, Purcell said Agape will spend time trying to find a new location for the Wright City offices. She said her organization is looking for space with around 2,500 square feet to work out of, but would settle for a minimum of 1,000 square feet. In addition, a paid staff member will be hired to man the food pantry in Wright City.