Officials with the county’s food pantries are bracing for fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, expecting the situation to get worse before it gets better.
“We know that with no cruise ships in Key West for 30 or more days, and now with the closure of the bars countywide, people are going to be hurting,” said Tom Callahan, the longtime volunteer director of SOS Foundation food pantry, which provides free food, hygiene items and other services at food pantries throughout the county. “We’ve started dramatically ramping up our food procurement efforts to get through this crisis.”
Callahan said the foundation recently obtained several pallets of pre-cooked, grilled chicken strips, “such as for fajitas and anything else. We’ve also placed huge orders with Smuckers for peanut butter and jelly, as well as for rice and beans.”
The food pantry will continue to operate on Stock Island as usual and is working to coordinate distribution efforts, possibly at the seven school sites that will begin providing meals to low-income students starting Monday, March 23.
Keys Area Interdenominational Resources (KAIR) is operating with all services as usual, including their food pantry and emergency services. The Marathon-based non-profit has changed its processes to align with health recommendations, including taking food out to people and conducting interviews over the phone. However, officials there have noted a decline in food supplies. Because the volunteer force is mostly older, KAIR has also trimmed its workforce down to a “small, committed skeleton crew” and is being “hyper-vigilant about the safety of staff and clients,” said executive director Marj Roberts.
“Because grocery stores were so stripped the last two weeks, it’s gonna hurt us,” Roberts said. “We can get up to 500 pounds of meat a day donated from Publix, and Monday we got zero.”
Roberts believes the situation will get better once things calm down and if people don’t hoard resources, but acknowledges that the situation remains “unforeseen.” She added, “If people feel like they have to stock up, it will probably lead to shortages.”
Roberts did note that donations of food would be marvelous and helpful. “If you went to the grocery store and hoarded, share with us. Drop off a bag or two of food; it’ll help a lot,” she said.
Free lunch to-go for anyone 18 and younger from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Frederick Douglass Gym, 111 Olivia St., Key West, starting March 17. No income verification or ID is needed.
Food Pantry Hours
5640 Maloney Ave., Stock Island: Monday & Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday & Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
St. Justin Church, Key Largo: Monday 3 to 5:30 p.m.
Food Pantry and operational hours are: Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays from noon to 3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2 to 5 p.m. If you can’t come during those times and are in need, come anyway and knock harder. Someone should be there. For elders who shouldn’t be out, send a neighbor or call and KAIR will try to deliver.
INDEPENDENCE CAY SOUP KITCHEN, MARATHON
Meals for anyone, 7 days a week at 12:30 p.m.
BURTON MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH/GOD’S KITCHEN
The food pantry is open and practicing social distancing guidelines. Temperatures for visitors are also being taken, and anyone with above-normal temperature cannot enter. The operational hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m.
God’s Kitchen, Tavernier. Thursday meal will be “to go” only, but still at its normal 5 to 7 p.m. time.
