Laborers Local 110 donates three tons of food, $8,400 cash to local food pantries helping thousands of families in need

BY SHERI GASSAWAY
Correspondent

Laborers Local 110, its members and retirees teamed up to feed the hungry by donating a total of 6,155 pounds of food – more than three tons – and $8,396 in cash to local food pantries.

The largest gift went to the Arnold Food Pantry, which serves residents in Arnold and in portions of Imperial, Fenton and South County. Local 110 members donated 4,155 pounds of food and $3,198 in cash for the pantry at their annual picnic last fall at Grant’s Farm. Local 110 matched the cash donation, bringing it $6,396.

“Local 110 has collectively donated over $50,000 and tons of food to help the Arnold Food Pantry feed the hungry over the past nine years,” said Phil Amato, president of the pantry’s board. “We are blessed and so grateful for their continued support.”

Rob Reed, Local 110 president, said the union’s retiree council was responsible for the remainder of the food and cash donations to the Agape House of Pacific, which serves residents in the Meramec Valley R3 School District and in Franklin County, and the Hillsboro Food Pantry, which serves residents in the Hillsboro and Grandview R-2 school districts.

“The retiree council does a 50/50 drawing at each of their meetings and collects canned goods as the holidays approach,” Reed said. “It’s safe to say each food pantry received close to 1,000 pounds of food and $1,096 in cash. Local 110 matched the money the retirees collected, raising a total of $2,192. This is our way of giving back to the local community, and I couldn’t be prouder of our members. They step up every year to feed the hungry.”

For more information on the Arnold Food Pantry, visit wefeedthehungry.org. Additional information on the Agape House of Pacific can be found at agapehousepacific.org and on the Hillsboro Food Pantry at hillsborofoodpantry.com.