WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — A local church opened its temporary food pantry weeks before it intended to, due to food insecurities for families after SNAP benefits were cut in half at the beginning of November.
The Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines started an initiative around a year ago called “Building Hope for Tomorrow.” Included in this initiative was building a food pantry on its campus.
Before the permanent pantry opened in the next year, the church had planned to open a temporary food pantry around Thanksgiving in a few weeks. That plan changed after SNAP benefits were cut in half at the beginning of November.
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The church sent out a message to its members asking that, if they could, they bring in non-perishable food items. Senior Pastor Mike Housholder said the church community answered that call and filled the shelves and tables for those in need…