Star of the Sea’s (SOS) food pantry at St. Justin’s Church and Key Largo Chamber of Commerce members are working together to collect non-perishable food for the holidays.
The drive will end on Friday, Dec. 23. This holiday the drive is looking to replenish its food pantry along with supplies for the upcoming year. During the past few months the pantry has experienced difficulties with obtaining key items such as canned meats, tuna and vegetables. Even staples such as peanut/nut butters, pasta and rice are in short supply.
The main offices and facilities for the SOS Foundation, which operates two client-choice food pantries, are in Key West. It also runs the Callahan Community Kitchen, which supplies fresh meals weekly to seniors and other needy residents. A nutrition education program for children and adults and cooking classes are also offered. The northern location for the SOS Foundation Food Pantry is located at 105500 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, at the St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church Parish Hall on the bayside. The pantry operates on Mondays from 1:30 to 5 p.m.
Each Monday, the day begins with trucks rolling in and staff and volunteers offloading pallets of meats, produce, canned goods and supplies. About 15 local volunteers assist in each part of the operation. This year, the pantry has added pet food for family pet needs.
Publix in Key Largo generously supplies sweet and savory baked goods every week. Upper Crust Pizza and Avenue Subs supply lunches for the volunteers, who often start at 7:30 a.m. and stay till closing at 5 p.m.
This year the pantry has experienced a larger number of service workers in the Keys using the food bank to supplement their food needs. Mothers with children, veterans, elderly, and some who have found their way to the keys and are lost, all need food.
Experienced volunteers do their best to advise, console and sometimes supply something as simple as a seat in the air conditioning and a bottle of water.
The weekly delivery trucks are often only half full of food supplies, yet 150 people and their families each week depend on the pantry to offer healthy choices even with the limited availability in offerings. The Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and its members have helped replenish the SOS food pantry.
