St. Andrew Food Pantry in dire need of volunteers

Friday, Apr. 24, 2020

RIVERTON — When its services have been needed the most, the doors of the St. Andrew Food Pantry have been shuttered. There’s no shortage of food; instead, it’s the volunteers that are hard to come by right now. Pantry Director Tinisha Turner said she lost all her volunteers a few weeks ago because all of them are over the age of 55 and are fearful of jeopardizing their health during the coronavirus pandemic.

Without the volunteers, Turner has no staff to unload food trucks, stock shelves or prepare boxes. 

“The volunteers are our lifeblood,” Turner said. “Without them, we are not able to run.”

The pantry has been closed since March 29. At press time, Turner was hoping that if she got enough volunteers the pantry could open back up for distribution on April 23. She would be happy to receive help from any volunteers who may be available right now and in a lower-risk group, Turner said. 

Her regular volunteers will return when this crisis is over, she said. 

Eight volunteers are needed on Wednesday mornings from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. to unload the Utah Food Bank truck, stock shelves and prepare the canned food boxes and cereal bags.  

Normally, the pantry serves about 120 families in the south Salt Lake Valley area. Turner said she expects that, with the large amount of people who have lost their jobs during the coronavirus shutdown, that number could climb to 200 to 250 families and is planning accordingly.

Usually, the pantry partners with the Utah Food Bank, Grocery Rescue, Starbucks, Pizza Hut and a local doughnut shop. Grocery Rescue is a Utah Food Bank and grocery retail partnership that provides fresh produce, dairy and meats to food pantries. However, with the overwhelming demand the public has placed on grocery stores the last several weeks, Grocery Rescue has not had surplus perishables to share with the local pantries.

Once the Grocery Rescue truck returns, Turner will need eight volunteers on Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. to unload and stock. Five volunteers would be sufficient on Thursday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. to take the boxes and bags out to clients’ vehicles, she said.

Volunteers should be able to lift at least 25 pounds, be age 15 or older and in good health. Turner is asking that, for safety reasons, even those who are suffering from allergies or colds pass on this service opportunity.

To volunteer at the St. Andrew Food Pantry, call Turner, 801-871-5080. The pantry also is accepting food donations, which will be treated to ensure there is no possibility of contagion, Turner said.