Hundreds had to be turned away as supplies dwindled
ST. LOUIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE Dr. Sam Page places a box of food into a waiting car at the former Jamestown Mall in Florissant, Missouri on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis says the give-a-way, to 2700 vehicles, is the largest food give-a-way to date in the St. Louis area. – Bill Greenblatt/UPI photo
Florissant, MO – Volunteers, including union members and some local officials, pitched in to help with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis large scale food giveaway Saturday, May 2, helping to feed families in need as the coronavirus pandemic has left thousands of people unemployed and with less food on the table.
The large-scale food giveaway took place at the former Jamestown Mall site in Florissant on Saturday.
Volunteers stuffed nearly 2,800 boxes – with food, toiletries, gloves, sanitizers and energy efficient light bulbs.
Even with those impressive numbers, organizers said about 250 cars had to be turned away as supplies ran out. The Urban League is planning another drive on Saturday, May 9, from 12–3 p.m. at the old Sears building on Kingshighway.
Some 75,249 people have filed for unemployment insurance in St. Louis County; 39,603 have filed in St. Louis City. Statewide, more than 500,000 people have filed unemployment claims in Missouri.
A MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARDSMAN waits for cars to place food in their trunks at the former Jamestown Mall in Florissant, Missouri on Saturday, May 2, 2020. The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis says the food give-a-way, to 2700 vehicles, is the largest food give-a-way to date in the St. Louis area. – Bill Greenblatt/UPI photoCAR TRUNKS ARE OPEN for cars waiting in line for free food at the former Jamestown Mall in Florissant, Missouri on Saturday, May 2, 2020. The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis says the food give-a-way, to 2700 vehicles, is the largest food give-a-way to date in the St. Louis area. – Bill Greenblatt/UPI photoA ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICEMAN does a dance as he directs cars to loading areas at the former Jamestown Mall in Florissant, Missouri on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis says the food give-a-way, to 2700 vehicles, is the largest give-a-way to date in the St. Louis area. – Bill Greenblatt/UPI photoST. LOUIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE Sam Page visits with Teamster volunteers at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis food giveaway Saturday, May 2, in Florissant, MO. – Bill Greenblatt/UPI photoST. LOUIS COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY Wesley Bell places a box of food into a waiting car at the former Jamestown Mall in Florissant, Missouri on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis says the food give-a-way, to 2700 vehicles, is the largest food give-a-way to date in the St. Louis area. – Bill Greenblatt/UPI photo
