Where does the Samaritan Center get its food?
The Samaritan Center gets food four ways: Local food drives and donations are the source of the majority of the canned foods and dry goods provided by the Samaritan Center. Food drives, such as the Letter Carriers Food Drive and Scouting for Food, as well as donations from local schools, churches and businesses, keep the pantry going. The center receives government commodities and Second Harvest goods through the Central Missouri Food Bank. Through a private grant the Center purchases milk, cheese, tooth brushes and tooth paste. In addition to the grant, financial donations are used to purchase other items locally such as meat, eggs, butter, laundry soap and toilet paper. In 2004 the Samaritan Center spent $185,539.07 on food from donations and an additional $84,644.24 on the dairy and dental hygiene products from the grant.
