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Get involved in food pantry effort

Each month, the two food pantries in Farmington distribute food to approximately 850 people – some of those are individuals, others are part of a family.

At the Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, Director Faith Odenthal said the amount is close to $10,000 each month of the amount of food distributed.

The same is true at the St. Vincent DePaul food pantry – a ministry of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Director Kathy Neiner spoke of the gratification on the faces of those who receive the donated items, as well as the feelings of the volunteers who assist her at the pantry.

It’s the generosity of those individuals – plus of the community – that makes it possible for these ladies and the organizations they are in charge of make each month a little easier for those in need.

On Nov. 18 the Parkland will be given an opportunity to help the Ministerial Alliance and the St. Vincent DePaul food pantries through purchases made at the Help the Hungry Bake Sale. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Centene Center. A committee made up of different faiths, but who all have a common goal and belief, are working together to help those in need.

The event will feature a bake sale, cooking demonstrations, cake walk, gingerbread house decorating contest, and other &#8220delicious” events. The event is being sponsored by New Era Bank, First State Community Bank, Ozarks Federal and First Bank.

The event was first thought up by Chris Landrum. She, in turn, has enlisted a number of helpers from Farmington churches to put the sale into a reality.

Before the sale, organizers are putting a call out to those with a different type of &#8220construction” skill.

A gingerbread house decorating contest has been scheduled for the event. It will feature custom-made gingerbread houses, baked and decorated by those wishing to enter the competition. Everyone who attends the bake sale will be able to buy a ticket in order to win one of these creations. All proceeds from those tickets sold will be a part of the donation given to the two pantries.

&#8220We really need people to bake gingerbread houses for our contest. If they want to use a kit or if they want to make one from scratch, we welcome them to enter,” said Landrum.

She recalled the idea for the gingerbread contest was from Sandy Mell, one of the committee members. Landrum credits her committee for their assistance in this endeavor.

Awards will be given out to the winning custom-made gingerbread houses. First place will receive $100 in gift certificates, second place will receive $50 in gift certificates and third place will receive $25 in gift certificates.

The rules for the contest state all entries should be placed on a board no larger than 18 inches by 18 inches and should be brought to the Centene Center between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Nov. 18. Entries become the property of Help the Hungry.

For more information, call 756-5132.

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