A Week at the Pantry

by Terry Thomure

Gene’s Week

Monday: Gene is there to assist with pickups from Aldi’s and Straubs.

Tuesday: Opens the Pantry for ladies to come and clean. Pantry is open for client shopping in the afternoon.

Wednesday: Gene tries to make Wednesday a “day off” except for monthly Board meetings. On this “day off” Gene enters new clients into the system, checks clients’ status records, prepares reports for St. Louis Food Bank and Operation Food Service, and works on Board reports.

Thursday: The Pantry is open in the evening and is run by volunteer groups. Gene tries not to be there except to interview new clients.

Friday: Gene is only needed occasionally, but there are frequent pickups.

Saturday: Although volunteer groups run the operation on this day, Gene is usually present.

Gene’s other administrative duties include: keeping records of volunteer hours, all receipts for the Pantry, and addressing emergencies as they arise. He keeps an inventory of everything that comes into the Pantry, as each item as to be counted, recorded, and “marked off.”

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Marie’s Week

Monday: Dick Weilbacher and Ed Tenary or Ray Heien pick up from Straubs. Barb and Tom Boone pick up from Aldi’s. Marilyn Sax and Lorraine Jacobs from St. Mark’s come in every other Monday and bring items from their church. They all stay and help organize. Karen Busch and Diane Rasch (St. Simon’s) sort and also decide what is to be sent to other pantries. Everything needs to be sorted, counted, and put away. Marie oversees this entire operation.

Tuesday: In the morning, Marie lets Peggy Kolbe, Theresa Winkeler, and Mary Ann Courisky into the Pantry and they all see that the Pantry is organized and in good order. Marie comes back at 2pm in order to open the Pantry in preparation for client shopping at 2:30pm.

Wednesday/Thursday: The little yellow bus arrives from St. Dominic Savio with deliveries both days. Lou Toenges arrives with a pickup from Aldi’s, and there is also a pickup from St. Louis Bread Company. On Thursday, Marie arrives back at 5pm in preparation for client shopping from 6pm-8pm.

Friday: Deliveries from St. Louis Bread Company need to be sorted. Alberta Geczi takes care of pastries and any extra bread goes to the Patch.

Saturday: A crew goes to pick up produce from Aldi’s on Kingshighway. The Rooftop crew processes the produce. Miscellaneous items come in on St. Dominic Savio’s little yellow bus.

Marie is usually able to share with other pantries and is virtually on call most of the time. The shelves are stocked every day. “I don’t do the work, my volunteers do the work”, says Marie.