Take a look below at some of the wonderful groups of people that have come together to make a difference for those in need in the community. Some of the most generous people I know live along the Hwy. 30 Corridor. God bless you all!

​Hope Lutheran Church of High Ridge hosted a food drive! Thanks to all who contributed. We can make a difference together ❤️

​Community of Christ Church in Dittmer hosted a food drive 😯 Thank you for hosting and all who donated! We can do this together ❤️

​Troops from the National Guard arrived in Cedar Hill in force April 29 to help the Peace Pantry stock shelves and serve their clients.

The troops were needed because many of the volunteers who in normal times work at the food pantry are considered vulnerable to COVID 19, Linda Schroeder said.  

“Most of our volunteers are over 65. Some have had cancer; others have had diabetes, and we asked them to stay home,” Linda said.

Fortunately, Linda received a timely phone call.

“Operation Food Search called me and asked if we needed help down here,” she said.   

Operation Food Search is the largest distributor of free food in the bi-state region and works to help supply the Peace Pantry and other pantries in the metro area with food. They arranged for members of the National Guard to come to Cedar Hill and help out. 

Over the course of three days, the Pantry had lots of help -- 24 troops one day, 12 another and 8 another. The troops were from the 1231 Transportation Company out of Bridgeton. Captain Bryan Barker commander of the company said the troops were called out because of the pandemic and 200 of them have been assigned to help food pantries across the state since April 21 for 30 days.

 “They were awesome,” Linda said.

Troops helped stock shelves, carry in food and helped clients load food, Linda said.

“We are so grateful. On Wednesday, they worked from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. stocking shelves for 

Wednesday night and then got the shelves ready for Thursday morning,” she said.  

They were scheduled again for the first week of May at the Peace Pantry and the timing couldn’t have been better.

Once a month, the Pantry distributes government commodities. Since not every food pantry is a USDA Center, families come from other areas of the county and beyond to pick up food. On average the Peace Pantry serves 350 families a month on the commodities side, and this time the Pantry has increased its store of commodities from 5,000 to 24,000 pounds, Linda said.
“(The troops) will come in on Wednesday at 9 a.m. and by Wednesday at 5 we’ll be ready to go,” she said.

Food will be unloaded and packed in boxes for those who come to the pantry.

Clients who get their food from the Peace Pantry weekly, however, are still allowed to shop.

“We don’t like to give them a box,” Linda said. 

The pantry is, however, giving them much more food on their visits in order to reduce the number of times they need to shop. Where in the past between 225 to 250 people came each week, now during the pandemic 170 to 180 people come each week, she said.  

“It’s much safer for them and for us,” Linda said.

Only five shoppers are allowed in the pantry at a time. They are all in the parking lot and they are each given a number, a sanitary wipe, gloves, a mask and a clean cart before they shop.
After they finish shopping, they are given another sanitary wipe to clean their hands and the cart is wiped down. 

Linda said the troops and their help over the past week brightened everyone’s week.

“The clients were happy to see them and thanked them for service. They were so much fun. 
They lifted everybody’s spirit,” Linda said.  

Barker said the troops were “super excited” because usually they’re involved in some national mission and they were glad to be working locally, helping out their communities.


“We’re all from Missouri and most of us from the St. Louis area,” he said. “With that, we are trained and well equipped, so I think we are good partners during this epidemic. For sure, we are happy to help.”