Paris’ Downtown Food Pantry put lots of groceries in lots of kitchens last year.
The pantry served 13,045 individuals in 4,825 households. That equates to 26% of the Lamar County population.
Of those households, 760 were new and had never gotten help before.
Since those receiving help can come every two weeks, Executive Director Allan Hubbard said the monthly average was 6,722 people in 2,486 unique households.
Operations Director Chuck Burton constantly sources groceries and oversees two tractor-trailer deliveries each week.
Pounds of food distributed totaled 2,183,131 which made more than 2,619,750 meals for area residents.
The pantry is funded by private individual donations, almost 30 local churches plus foundation grants.
Three staff plus more than 200 monthly volunteers help make it all happen. Governed by a board of directors made up of local community leaders, the pantry has been in operation since 2009 and is a proud United Way partner agency.
Downtown Food Pantry is one block northwest of the Lamar County Courthouse at 124 W. Cherry St. Find out more at downtownfoodpantry.org
