After a soggy Saturday, The Storehouse Community Food Pantry reaped the benefits when the Vicksburg Farmers’ Market was forced to shut down because of bad weather.

The food pantry was given more than 200 pounds of squash meant to be sold by outdoor vendors before the storms rolled in, soaking the downtown area where the event was to be held.

But the volunteers at the food pantry weren’t complaining about the weather.

“We were happy to get the squash,” said Charles Calhoun, a weekly volunteer at the food pantry. “You just never know what’s going to happen, and we’ve been giving out the squash to people who come in for food.”

The Farmers’ Market is downtown at Jackson and Washington streets and is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays through the end of July for the sale of summer vegetables, flowers and baked goods.

The pantry is at 907 South St. and serves people who need food in emergencies. Calhoun said the pantry is funded by donations of food and money, and the rainout and similar situations really help out.

“We’re dependent on others,” Calhoun said. “It just works, and we’re grateful.”

The pantry generally hands out nonperishable food to people in Vicksburg and Warren County up to three times a year with at least one full month between visits.

Calhoun said the pantry serves as many as 60 or as few as 10 people per week.

“It’s a very satisfying thing to do,” Calhoun said. “We can talk to them and make people smile, and that’s fun.”