Deborah Prescott | Daily Press Store Manager Susan Berg pulls a cart through the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Gladstone to prepare a food order for a client recently. During the ‘stay home, stay safe’ order, clients waited in their vehicles after placing a food order with the pantry. Berg noted donations have been generous, and the pantry hasn’t had as many people requesting food as before the pandemic.

ESCANABA — Across the nation there have been reports of food pantries being stretched beyond their means due to the increased number of people in need. That’s not necessarily the case in the local area. Managers of food pantries say people in the area have been very generous.

“The food pantry isn’t being utilized like before the coronavirus pandemic,” said Gladstone St. Vincent de Paul Society Store Manager Susan Berg. “We’ve cut back the hours temporarily because the need is currently not here.”

Berg noted there are a number of organizations in the area providing food and believes demand is lower in Gladstone because of it, and the need will go back up.

“Donations have been wonderful. The store is doing very well with donations as well,” she said. “Thanks to our community for the generosity. They are good to the store and food pantry.”

The thrift store closed March 23 and reopened May 26. Temporarily it is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The food pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon. Donation hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For more information about the Gladstone St. Vincent de Paul Society call 906-428-1234. They are located at 816 Delta Ave., Gladstone. The pantry is located at 816 Delta Ave., the parking lot side of the store.

Major Alex Norton, Salvation Army of Escanaba, has experienced the generosity of the community first hand when he recently took on the task of accepting and storing 10 cent returnables from local business Mr. Bike, Ski and Fitness. The fundraiser for local homeless people was handed over to the Salvation Army and they continue to receive returnables outside their building.

The Salvation Army of Escanaba continues to serve clients following social distancing guidelines and keeping clients out of the building as much as possible. The Salvation Army has canceled all day and summer camps through the summer and extended its quarantine of the building through September.

“We are continuing to provide emergency services through the pantry and daily meals,” said Norton.

The Salvation Army of Escanaba is located at 3001 5th Ave. S. For additional information call 906-786-0590.

Escanaba Seventh Day Adventist Pantry, led by Robin Wycoff, continues to keep the food pantry open Monday and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. Volunteers from the pantry deliver food to vehicles and ask clients to keep a safe distance from workers. The Escanaba Seventh Day Adventist Pantry is located at 210 S. Lincoln Road, and can be reached at 906-241-0811.

Thursday, June 11, Wycoff and her team are hosting a mobile pantry at the Omni Center in Rapid River from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until the food runs out. Everyone is welcome to get a box.

“Turn left (in Rapid River) at the bank on the main street,” said Wycoff.

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Escanaba has been open all year, serving clients over the phone to find out what the need is of neighbors.

“We have been doing everything by phone,” said Babs Cavadeas, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Escanaba District Council president. “A notice was put on our door with phone numbers for our neighbors in need to call requesting help.”

During the ‘stay home, stay safe’ order SVdP has provided assistance to neighbors in need with gas bills, prescriptions, clothing, car repair, and others, according to Cavadeas. Starting June 15 the reception room will be open to clients.

“The soup kitchen has been open every Wednesday,” Cavadeas said. “We will continue to do bag lunches since our dining room is not very large.”

Donations are accepted at the warehouse, 815 1st Ave. N. Before donations are processed, employees let the donations sit for a week. The thrift store is open and located at 1014 Ludington St.

“We are still following this procedure. With everyone home, there has been a lot of closet cleaning so we have received a nice supply of donations,” said Cavadeas. “With everything opening up now, we hope to get back to some form of normalcy and to continue to be there for our neighbors.”