The Storehouse Community Food Pantry once again needs the community’s help.

But it’s different this time.

“We don’t need money and we don’t need donations of food. What we need are people to come to the food pantry seeking food assistance,” Bill Mounger, Storehouse Community Food Pantry president, said.

Since re-opening its doors in May, after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of clients who generally receive services from the pantry has declined.

Mounger said he did not want to speculate as to why people are not coming to the food pantry because all he really knows for sure is they are not coming.

“On Monday, only two clients showed up for assistance,” Mounger said, leaving those who volunteer with not much to do. “Our volunteers would much rather be busy than sitting around with nothing to do.”

Therefore, Mounger is asking everyone to spread the word the food pantry is open and ready to serve.

While most of the food items at the pantry are non-perishable goods, Mounger said, they have been concerned about some of the fresh produce they receive.

“We try not to throw out the food. We try to give it to someone else,” he said. “Kroger was giving us a lot of fruit that we had to get out or it would spoil.”

Mounger said there is no screening process clients have to go through in order to receive food.

“If they show up we will feed them,” Mounger said. ” The only information we ask for is a Social Security Card and a picture I.D.”

The Storehouse Community Food Pantry is located at the site of the Good Shepherd Center on Cherry Street. Operating hours are from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Wednesdays and from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursdays.

If anyone has questions or needs more information about the food pantry, call 601-642-0636 or 601-497-1714.