Long lines at Samaritan Ministry Food Pantry free food giveaway in St. Martin

It’s not every day a food pantry is looking to help clear out its shelves, but that was the case at a Jackson County food pantry today.

- it's not every day a food pantr- is looking to help clear- out its shelves, but that was - the case at a jackson county- food- pantry today.

- news 25's toni miles explains.- - bonnie furniss, director, - samaritan ministry food pantry:- "i hadn't expected this.

I got- here this morning and the - parking lot was full."- <nats>- the line was long, and the- turnout more than anyone- anticipated at monday's free- food giveaway, especially after- covid concerns had kept many of- the samaritan ministry food - pantry's regular clientele away- recently.

- bonnie furniss, director, - samaritan ministry food - pantry: "we were getting fewer- people because of that, so we - were getting excess - - - - food, so we decided to have a - big bang today."- nats: 46 and 47, right?

- rita shields, volunteer,- samaritan ministry food - pantry: "have the people bear - with us today because it's goin- to be a while - trying to catch up with all - these people."- while there was a bit of a wait- no one left empty-handed as thi- jackson county food pantry- relaxed its usual restrictions- on- this one day - expanding its- outreach and the menu for - those who turned out.

- rita shields, volunteer,- samaritan ministry food - pantry: "vegetables, spaghetti,- spaghetti sauce, cereal, meat,- bread dessert."

- toni miles, news 25: "before- monday's food drive, the lord i- - - - my help in ocean springs- received quite a few donations- from here.

Meanwhile, the - mission continues - here year round."

- bonnie furniss, director, - samaritan ministry food - pantry: "within my regular- clientele that i have, people - are still losing jobs, and some- of them are staying away becaus- of the coronavirus."- - - - but not on this day as more tha- 100 people masked up and- loaded up with some extra food- thanks to some good samaritans- and the outreach efforts of thi- jackson county- food pantry.- in st.

Martin, toni miles, news- 25.

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