For the last 22 years, Faith King has been driving 1 1/4 miles from her home to the to open up the doors of the food pantry.
There, she organizes and divvies up the donated food for the constant stream of people that need an extra bit of help.
"The pantry is open to anyone who comes by," King says with a smile.
The pantry has been at the church for decades, even before King began working there, she says. About five years ago, the church added a sign out front on the days the pantry was open—Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
"It has brought in as many donors as it has takers," she says.
The pantry offers non-perishable foods, including canned goods, individual-packaged items like fruit cups, tea and coffee as well as family-sized items and meals.
"Even sardines go," she says with a chuckle, "even if they sit for a month or two."
Along with food, it also offers up simple toiletries as well as toilet paper when available.
When it first opened, the pantry began as a food closet. From there, it grew into the workroom where it currently resides and now, King says they may be expanding it into another, larger space.
The pantry and its goods are available to everyone that walks through the doors and although in the past served mostly families, for the last two years has served mostly single adults, with some smaller families.
King says that years ago, there were days that not a single person walked in.
"I haven't had a day like that in quite some time," she says in between her trips to the front office and to the food pantry to help those that were walking in.
"It's a way of giving and receiving," says Ricardo Fernandez of the benefits of the food pantry.
Fernandez has been coming to the food pantry since November 2011 after a friend had invited him to attend service at the church. Now, he collects his meals a few times a week from the food pantry.
"In the economic times we are all living in, everyone can use extra help," says Campbell resident Sally Pray.
Pray was driving to the when she noticed the sign out front and decided to take a look. She's now been frequenting the food pantry for the last two years.
She lives off of her social security and says that after rent and bills, she begins to run low on food at the end of each month. Having the food pantry available to her and her housemates is "handy."
"And the food pantry team leader, Faith is always friendly and extra, extra helpful," Pray says. "She's hard working and very pleasant. I love visiting with her."
The feeling is mutual.
King says that one of her favorite parts of her time working at the food pantry is the people.
"I enjoy expanding my acquaintances. I really appreciate that," she says.
The pantry is always looking for donations but King says the items most needed are:
- canned meat
- canned dinners
- toilet paper.
The Food Pantry is open Tuesday and Thursday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon. To make a donation, please call 408-378-4900.
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