The Taste of Arnold – the Gateway Food Pantry’s top fundraising event – will have a new format this year.
Instead of area restaurants providing samples at this year’s fundraiser, it will feature a meal prepared by pantry Board of Directors member Adam Lambay, the executive chef at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark.
“I’m extremely grateful we have an executive chef on our board who is willing to cook for this event,” said Patrick McKelvey, executive director of the pantry, which previously was called the Arnold Food Pantry.
The event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road. Doors open at 5 p.m.
The pantry will sell 200 tickets in advance, for $20 each. No tickets will be sold at the door. To purchase a ticket, call 636-287-3663 or email information@gatewayfoodpantry.org.
McKelvey said the format for Taste of Arnold changed because many restaurants were unable to participate in the event.
He said about 20 Arnold and Kimmswick restaurants have donated gift cards to be given away as attendance prizes at the event.
“It is super important that even though we changed our name to Gateway Food Pantry that we haven’t lost our identity,” he said. “This event will always be about showcasing Arnold. We are grateful that businesses still want to participate even though they can’t spare the staff to serve food at the event.”
Lambay will prepare a fall-themed dinner, which will be served at about 5:50 p.m.
Nothing Bundt Cakes of Arnold will provide dessert for the dinner. Anheuser-Busch, the ABV Barrel Shop of Arnold and Wild Sun Winery and Brewery of Hillsboro will provide beverages for the evening.
The event also will include a silent auction and 50/50 drawing.
McKelvey said last year’s Taste of Arnold raised about $65,000 for the pantry.
“This event is extremely important,” he said. “Our demand has significantly increased, and we are hoping our donors can make a similar increase to sustain our operation.
“The evening is about food and a fundraiser, but it is mostly about celebrating all of the food we have been able to provide our community for the last year.”
McKelvey said the pantry has provided 3,781 food distributions through October this year. Last year through October, the pantry had provided 3,176 food distributions.
Gateway Food Pantry, 2024 Key West Drive, in Arnold offers food assistance to residents of the Fox C-6 and Windsor C-1 school districts and to those who live in the 63127 and 63128 ZIP codes in south St. Louis County. It provides regular food distributions to clients every Thursday.