The Katy Christian Ministries Food Bank in Katy received a 20,000 pound donation of food from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last week. The Salt Lake City, Utah-based church donated pallets of pasta, beans, tomatoes, sugar, soup and other essentials to fill up shelves in the pantry which have strained to meet increased demand due to the economic impact of COVID-19.

“A couple of weeks ago I had started to panic,” said Krissy Shetterly, food pantry director at KCM. “We were extremely low on stock and the number of people coming through each day had doubled. We desperately needed more food. But I’ve learned that God never lets us down and something always turns up.”

Shetterly said the added supplies, in addition to those provided by other food drives, would allow the pantry to continue with its mission to feed those in need for a while longer. Prior to the donation, the pantry had completely run out of some essentials like sugar.

KCM also provides social services to the Katy area such as financial assistance and a crisis center that supports victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, said Annette Stewart, a representative for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church, which has about 4,000 members in the Katy area, holds donation drives to support KCM’s work in the community.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that we could arrange this donation from our welfare department,” said church representative Julie Smith. “KCM are able to reach so many with their ministry and always go the extra mile in thinking of special ways to bless the lives of the community.”

Smith said she was aware of KCM always adding new features to its services like the recently-launched “The Birthday Closet” program which provides birthday gifts for parents who are short on cash to provide to their children.

Shetterly said she appreciated the boost to the pantry’s supplies, there is still a need for donations.

“With so many families at home right now, we’re finding that what people really lack are snacks,” said Shetterly. “Donations of things like granola bars, juice boxes, and any kid-friendly foods would be a huge blessing. People in Katy also love dry beans – the one-pound bags of black beans, pinto beans, etcetera.”

The donation to the pantry is a part of the practice of faith members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church funds donations such as this by a tradition when members skip two consecutive meals per month and donate the money they would have spent on that food to those in need – like KCM’s food pantry.

“You always feel like everything that you donate and the time you spend (at KCM) is going directly to the clients,” said Smith. “You get a good feeling working there.”