Remarkable roadblocks to hunger,
preventers of starvation,
enablers of survival,
food pantries hold more and more of us
in the palms of their hands.

Folks who donated
and never thought empty cupboards
would haunt their families
now face grim realities of need.

Stigma vanishes in the face of reality.    

But some things don’t appear on food pantry shelves:  
flour
corn meal
baking soda
baking powder
sugar (white or brown)
molasses
oancake syrup
olive oil (Salvation Army has corn oil)
butter (Salvation Army has margarin)            
        clients are limited to one visit per month
vinegar of any kind
Pam cooking spray
jams and jellies
soy sauce
Worcestershire sauce
sour cream
cottage cheese
cheese (time was, commodity cheese was famous)
fish sticks (used to have them, not anymore)
tofu
bath soap
shampoo
conditioner
lotion
vitamins
cough drops
toothpaste
mouthwash

Nathaniel Mission
    food pantry visit once per month
        but the best produce in town
        two household products             
                laundry detergent            
                toilet paper            
                paper towels            
                dish soap            
                bleach
    clothing bank
                three garments per visit, personal care samples 
    healthy breakfast and lunch Mondays through Thursdays
    coffee and water available all day                                    
    
 God’s Pantry allows two visits per month            
        limited produce varies
        frozen meats of many kinds
        come fall, sign up for Thanksgiving basket

Sisters Road to Freedom “More than a Pantry”                        
        Wednesdays and Saturdays
        legal help                        
        DV seminars                        
        clothing (including undergarments and shoes)                        
        baby needs  

This patchwork quilt of finding basic human needs            
    requires project management skills.