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During the coronavirus pandemic, West Stanly Christian Ministries has been busy ensuring households have enough food to help sustain them.

“The demand has been high, but so has the response from the community,” said Executive Director Robert Britt, adding that food drives and drive-through giveaways as well as WSCM’s normal food pantry operations have helped to make sure people don’t go hungry in the area.

WSCM does have some food shortages, though. It specifically needs soups, especially tomato, mashed potatoes, grape jelly, canned fruits and vegetables. Britt said any financial contributions — which go towards paying Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in Charlotte, which delivers food to the pantry — are also appreciated.

The food pantry is stocked primarily through individual and group donations and supplemented through Second Harvest Food Bank purchases made with donations provided to West Stanly Christian Ministries. Typical items include canned meats, fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, pasta, soups, breakfast items and miscellaneous items like peanut butter and rice.

Clients can receive food every 60 days and the amount of food is adjusted per household — so a family of four would receive more poundage of food than a family of two, Britt said, adding that WSCM serves between 40 to 50 households a month.

WSCM has been busier than ever this year due to the pandemic. The organization has already given away more food through the first six months of this year (70,000 pounds) than iit did for all of last year (54,000 pounds).

The organization, which is located in Stanfield, serves the western part of the county, along with parts of Cabarrus (especially around Midland) and Union County (New Salem area). The food pantry is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday though WSCM prefers for clients to make appointments.

If people are in need of food, they can call WSCM at 704-888-6406 to schedule an appointment. Food donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 100 S. Love Chapel Road in Stanfield.