H.T. and Marla P. Goodwin at Jeremiah Free Will Baptist Church open their doors and hearts to serve. The Goodwins’ generosity has been a living presence of peace in East St. Louis, Illinois since 2007. Their community service has come to life in a variety of ways, through educational scholarships, workshops, community outreach events and their successful and quite popular Jeremiah’s Food Pantry.
Open to anyone in need, Jeremiah’s Food Pantry began in 2008 and serves St. Clair County, and the hungry as far away as Dupo and Lebanon. The pantry is open on Wednesdays, serving up to 150 people in a two-hour shopping spree, where money and IDs are not required. Ten guests enter the pantry at a time, receive up to four bags to “shop” for what they want, all with dignity and respect.
Jeremiah’s Food Pantry shares the wealth through the generous support of the St. Louis Foodbank, Shop N Save, and private donations.
Supplied with meats, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, juice drinks and extra commodities for seniors, over the years Jeremiah’s Food Pantry has obtained three freezers, two coolers and a refrigerator, to keep food fresh or frozen.
Patrons are grateful for the pantry and comfortable sitting area, which is also served by Pantry Manager Pam
