Food Pantry Struggling to Stay Open

Managers at a south Austin food pantry hope to open their doors Tuesday morning. They had no food to give out on Monday.

Most of the shelves at the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry were cleared off on Friday. The pantry is located at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Monday managers had to turn people away. Among those who left empty handed was Lyman Glymphy.

" It hurts me right at this point in time," said Glymphy.

He was laid off earlier this year and is struggling to provide for his family. He brought his 2-year-old-son to the pantry to help him carry their food back home. The father and son continued their search, not holding bags, but each others hand.

"I've got to make sure he is fed," said Glymphy.

The truck that brings in new supplies usually arrives on Monday. But it was rescheduled. Its an example of how the current economic downturn, is creating a need that is difficult to fill. According to St. Ignatius Pastoral Associate Sean McGuire, the pantry used to provide food, each month, to about 1500 people. The number of this October almost hit 6,000.

"So not only do we have the homeless, but we also have the working poor, those working two jobs and they just cant make ends meet," said McGuire.

Those who want to help restock the food pantry can drop off donations at the church office. It is located near the corner of Congress and Oltorf.