New expanded food pantry building ready to accept donations
(Seguin) – As you draw up your holiday list for gift giving, don’t forget to include Seguin’s local food pantry the Christian Cupboard. That’s because the Christian Cupboard’s annual holiday food drive is well on its way. Individuals, churches, schools, businesses, and other organizations are encouraged to collect and donate non-perishable food items from now through Dec. 30.
Regina Lee, of the Christian Cupboard, says this is the time of the year that the pantry looks to get stocked in hopes of serving families not only throughout the holiday season but to ensure that plenty of food is available as it kicks off a brand-new year.
“So, we start in November really putting it out there especially for the schools, the kiddos like to help and it goes all the way to Dec. 30. Of course, we take donations all year long, but this is really major,” said Lee.
Lee says last year, the cupboard was limited in what it could accept during the food drive due to the ongoing renovation and expansion of its current building located at 516 N. Camp St. This year, that is no longer the case. She says with plenty of room now for shelves, coolers and storage space, the cupboard is looking to accept a record-breaking amount of donations.
Now while there is definitely space in their building for canned foods, Lee says those dollars can often times be stretched just a little bit farther.
“If the cans are too heavy, give us the money. Two dollars goes a long way for us believe it or not. We shop locally. We shop HEB. We shop Walmart. We even go to Arlan’s for different things, the dollar store so you can give money and people have given money and have designated what they want their money to go (to). We’ve had people give us gift cards to give out to the elderly so they can go to Whataburger to enjoy a hamburger or a coffee or something with their friends. So, we have had people specify what they want done and we try to do the letter of the law and do what they ask because if someone takes the time to do that, I want it to be given to where they have asked for it to go,” said Lee.
Meanwhile, those wishing to fill up their shopping carts are reminded about a few suggestions. They include staples such as Ramen noodles, canned beans, corn, green beans, beef stews, pasta, macaroni and cheese and cereals.
Lee adds that thanks to the local hosting of the Peanut Butter Bowl by several organizations especially the Seguin ISD athletic program, the pantry is happy to announce that peanut butter is no longer on this year’s list of suggested foods. She says the Peanut Butter Bowl is a high school football competition aimed at fighting hunger with the collection of peanut butter by not only athletes but by those in the stands at the start of each season.
“I can tell you this year we are so looking forward to the food drive but the one thing that I don’t need is peanut butter. We have enough peanut butter to last; I’m going to say a year. Someone said two years. I will tell you this, the Peanut Butter Bowl was such a success, and we did sort peanut by month, date, and year. So, you are not going to get a jar that says expires 2024 because we haven’t’ gotten through 2023 yet. All our dates are good dates but one thing I really don’t’ need right now is peanut butter and peanut butter really is an American staple. I know there are people with peanut allergies. I know there are people who can’t have it but otherwise, it’s actually a staple,” said Lee.
Volunteers at the Christian Cupboard jokingly add that perhaps there now needs to be a jelly contest of sorts to go along with the hundreds and hundreds of jars of peanut butter that are now stored at the pantry.
Lee says those donating to the Christian Cupboard are also encouraged to consider giving other important products that will go a long way in meeting the needs of area residents.
“Within the food drive also — the main thing is actually food but if you want to think outside the box, give me a pack of toilet paper, bars of soap, shampoo, laundry detergent. Things that are necessities. The basic things you use at home are actually the things that we give out and people will ask occasionally – somebody is between paychecks, or someone has come into their home unexpectedly, so they will ask for toiletries, and we give out toiletries when we have them but actually, I’ll go out and buy them if we don’t’ have them. We try to keep them on the shelf,” said Lee.
If residents aren’t involved in a group participating in a food collection drive for the Christian Cupboard, then they are asked to drop off their donations at the Christian Cupboard Mondays through Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and between those same hours every first and third Saturdays of the month. A 24-hour drop off collection box is also available on the north side of the building.
Seguin Radio KWED and the Seguin Daily News will also be doing their part to help feed local families during its annual Holiday Food and Toy Drive benefiting both the Christian Cupboard and the Seguin Police Department’s Blue Santa Program. The event will be held outside the radio station on Friday, Dec. 2 from 7 to 9 a.m. The radio station is located at 609 E. Court St.