Options are available to residents of the Kenai Peninsula who are struggling with food insecurity, especially those whose needs have increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the dipping temperatures.
The Kenai United Methodist Church, located across from Wells Fargo, has a food pantry every Monday from 12:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Patrons are asked to drive to the front of the church and wait in their cars. A food pantry volunteer will greet everyone and instruct all participants as to when it is their turn.
Families and single people will be given bags of food based on their family size, and the church says that all are welcome. They also note that the invitation is extended for families, or individuals, to participate once a calendar month to receive food. Coordinator Shirley Woolley can be contacted for more information at (910) 258-2108.
The Soldotna United Methodist Church is offering a similar food pantry program, taking place on Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
The Soldotna church updates social media after each Wednesday’s distribution, and numbers were up last week compared to prior weeks.. The pantry distributed 300 bags on October 28, feeding 158 families or 538 individuals. That marked an increase of 80 bags distributed from the week before.
More information can be found by visiting the Soldotna United Methodist Church online.