Arnold Food Pantry Trades Bread for Other Foods

There is one food item Kathy Flanigan, director of the , has in abundance. Bread.

“It’s the one food I don’t pray or hope will arrive, because it’s always here,” Flanigan said in an interview with Patch.

The nonprofit organization, at 20 Village Plaza located on south Jeffco Boulevard, had about 300 boxes filled with donated bread loaves on Monday.

Flanigan could not explain the abundance of bread. But she receives so much bread that she can exchange it for other foods in abundance at other pantries. 

The Arnold nonprofit really needs canned foods that are a complete meal, she said. Among the items requested are tuna, canned ravioli or spaghetti and canned fruits. Boxes of Tuna Helper or Hamburger Helper can help families’ nutritional needs.

The pantry also receives a limited amount of fresh fruits and vegetable donations, Flanigan said.

Most food pantries prefer to save those rare food donations for their recipients.

Flanigan said she exchanges bread for items such as soda or chips to help people have a regular life.

Because of the limited amounts of produce, Flanigan chose to temporarily break the list of hungry Arnold families into two groups, A-N and O-Z. The groups will alternate weeks to receive food from the pantry, she said.

“This is the first time we’ll try this,” Flanigan said about splitting the list of recipients into two groups.

Monday’s bread shipment went to help a food shelter and families in Farmington, MO, Flanigan said.

Bread has a short shelf life, said Arnold Ward 3 Councilman Phil Amato who has organized a Saturday fundraiser concert for the non-profit.

The bread should go to people who need it.