Press release, August 16, 2020; For more information, contact: Jim Doyle at 316-699-5129, doyj02@gmail.com.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our world, the residents of Syracuse and especially the residents of Downtown Syracuse. When members of St. Paul’s Syracuse recognized the scope of the pandemic, we suspended our drop-in The Caring Place ministry for the health and safety of everyone and considered ways to continue serving our Downtown neighbors during this pandemic. We decided to put The Open Pantry into operation effective August 13, 2020. The Open Pantry is a place where non-perishable food items can be donated and placed by members of St. Paul’s (or by our Downtown neighbors), and then these same items can be taken on an as-needed basis by our Downtown neighbors.
The photograph shows the finished product. The Open Pantry is located outside the church building located at 220 East Fayette Street, just to the left (east) of the current main church entrance door. The Open Pantry was installed on August 13 and has already been stocked with its first food for sharing! The Open Pantry is open to passers-by on a 24/7 basis.
If you know Downtown neighbors who may be in need of non-perishable food items, please share news of The Open Pantry with them. It will include a variety of shelf-stable boxed and canned goods, but will not include refrigerated or fresh foods.
