Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Storehouse Community Food Pantry closed its doors on April 8.

The decision was not made lightly, Storehouse Community Food Pantry President Bill Mounger said, but because of the concern for possible infection to volunteers and clients, the food pantry board made the decision to discontinue services until it was safe to reopen.

Even as numbers of the virus continue to increase in Warren County, Mounger said there continues to be a need for services provided by the food pantry. That immediate need is why organizers have decided to reopen the food pantry beginning Monday.

“We will continue serving our clients by drive-thru in their cars and no one will be allowed inside other than our volunteers,” Mounger said.

With the reopening, Mounger said they will also be taking additional safeguards by reducing the number of volunteers in the food pantry at any one time.

In April, the Storehouse Community Food Pantry received word that it was among 11 other non-profit organizations that would split $26,000 that was donated by Molina Healthcare of Mississippi.

“We feel very fortunate that they reached out to us and $2,000 will help us out a whole lot,” Mounger said at the time in an interview with The Post. “We were very glad to get that. We have had some tough times and this will be a great help for us going forward.”

In March the food pantry was robbed and all the hot dogs, tuna fish and meat Kroger had donated were stolen. With the funds donated by Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Mounger said the pantry’s shelves would be restocked.

Food pantry operating hours are Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon and Wednesday’s from 5 to 6 p.m.

“We will continue to serve the community as long as we have the number of volunteers necessary to operate and as long as we feel we can keep everyone safe,” Mounger said.

The food pantry is located at 629 Cherry St.