New interactive map helps people find local food pantries

by enFocus

by DJ Manou, WSBT 22 ReporterThursday, September 3rd 2020

Full story here.

Knowing that food scarcity has become a growing problem, there's an effort to help families find food.

St. Joseph County residents now have a new way to find food pantries.

The St. Vincent De Paul Society has helped more than 10,000 people since March, but for some, they only know it's there via word of mouth.

Now, there's a new interactive map online that can show you where to go.

With a family of eight, Clarissa Caston has turned to the St. Vincent De Paul Society for help.

"Probably once a month when times get real hard," said Caston.

Filling up cars with food, she says it's been a big relief.

"They're here, they're willing to help and you just gotta get up and come down. Like I said, it's a blessing."  Executive Director Anne Watson says they've operated the food pantry every Tuesday and Thursday since March and even offer delivery.

They're dealing with an issue bigger than most people realize.

"What we're finding is nearly half the clients that are coming here are people that we haven't seen before, especially in the beginning when people that had layoffs," said Watson.

"Prior to COVID, 13% of residents in St. Joseph County were suffering from food insecurity," said Jamison Edwards. "After COVID, we don't necessarily know the numbers as of now, but we can imagine that there is quite the influx."

Caston's sister told her about St. Vincent, but Jamison Edwards and the County Food Access Council wanted to build a website where pantry information was more readily available.

All you have to do is click on one of the 40 icons and it will show where and when you can go to get food.

"The idea is to conglomerate all that information in one place so they can say, 'oh, I can go to this food pantry, here it is.'"

Watson says the map is a great new resource especially since she's seen the demand for food rise again.

"Especially now that all the students are home and doing e-learning. A lot of families are coming in to supplement the food they would have at school."

"It will help them get where they need to go," said Caston. "Find certain areas that they didn't think were there."

Edwards says the website will be updated as locations come and go or change any time. You can find the map here.