A food pantry that serves Wright City residents in need has found itself with a need of its own, after being left without an operating facility.

Wright City Community Food Pantry, housed on the grounds of Wright City Church of the Nazarene, has moved its entire inventory and supplies into on-site storage after the church made the decision to sell the modular buildings where the food pantry operated.

Freezers for meat have now been moved into the garage of the church’s parsonage along with shelving units, while other food, chairs and supplies are being kept in a refrigerated trailer temporarily donated by Coastal Carriers.

The church’s pastor, Joe Purl, who also runs the food pantry, said local clients’ needs are still being met.

“We’re operating at the same location, just out of some temporary facilities. We’re still full service, on our regular schedule with all our clients,” Purl said. “We’re still in COVID response. We’re able to hand out supplies in a (pre-boxed) format.”

Purl said pantry supplies were moved into their temporary storage at the beginning of September thanks to the help of generous volunteers. He said the Nazarene Church had for some time been discussing the sale of the modular units where the pantry was located.

“They were moving toward their end of life, and the amount of money it takes to upkeep them was increasing. The church made a decision that it no longer was cost effective for the resources they had, and so decided to sell those,” Purl said. “We knew that potential was coming, and it’s just ... come to fruition.”

Purl said the food pantry has been searching for a new permanent facility for a number of months. The nonprofit hopes to lease a space, but Purl said the search has been difficult.

“We have really not been able to find a location that fits all our needs,” the pastor commented, although he said private partners are pursuing potential leads for facilities.

Purl said he hopes to get the food pantry re-housed within a relatively short time, and has faith that a local opportunity can be found.

Long term, he added that the community food pantry is going to seek more ways to foster ongoing monetary support, in order to help pay the lease and upkeep of a future facility.

Community service continues

Even in a time of challenge, the Wright City Community Food Pantry’s core mission hasn’t changed. The pantry’s clients right now are facing new struggles of their own with the economic impacts of COVID.

“There’s already issues in poverty with transportation, and several other accessibility issues. For a lot of our clients, housing is continuing to be an issue,” Purl said.

So the food pantry is partnering with Church of the Nazarene and Wesley Smith Chapel to deliver perishable foods and other items to in-need neighborhoods twice a week. Purl said about 50 boxes a week are going out into the community (which also keeps down how much food is kept in storage).

The silver lining of the pandemic, at least for the food pantry, is that more fresh fruit and vegetables are being donated due to a decrease in demand from the restaurant industry.

“We’re still seeing a good percentage of that coming through, and we’re moving that into the community,” Purl said. “The Lord has just made available to us to be able to get that into the community, both with our available transportation and volunteers to do that.”