The Arnold Food Pantry entered a new era last week.
The pantry, at 2024 Key West Drive, changed its name to the Gateway Food Pantry, and its service area expanded.
The pantry will now offer 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. Before, the pantry only served those who lived in the Fox C-6 School District boundaries and a portion of the Windsor C-1 School District.
Patrick McKelvey, the pantry’s executive director, announced the new name and expanded coverage area during a June 14 open house. More than 150 volunteers, donors and board members attended the event.
“I can’t think of many days that are more exciting than this for our pantry,” he said. “It is really exciting to show our volunteers and donors what we are able to accomplish. We served over 10,000 appointments last year, and I hope, in the future, we can double that and make it 20,000 in this expansion.”
The Arnold Food Pantry was created in 1984 and was housed in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church’s old parish center, which was demolished to make way for the widening of Church Road.
In 2003, the pantry moved to the Village Plaza Shopping Center, which is on Hwy. 61-67 just south of the Arnold city limits.
In December 2012, the pantry moved back into city limits at 2024 Key West Drive.
With the expansion, the pantry will now cover 125 square miles. In addition to encompassing all of the Fox and Windsor school districts, the pantry will provide services to people who live in portions of the Lindbergh and Mehlville school districts, McKelvey said.
“Every organization needs a growth spurt, no matter how successful it has been in the past,” said Ed Fitzhenry, who retired as the pantry’s executive director on May 1 and was named the pantry’s board president on June 13.
“There are times in an organization’s history where it just needs to move along to the next level. We have a lot of resources, and we can provide a lot of food assistance to people in need.”
Fitzhenry said the new name may alleviate some of the confusion about who may receive food from the pantry.
“One reason for the change was we have had so many people come here for food assistance and thought we only served people who live in Arnold,” he said. “How many people never did come?”
Todd Barbour, who has volunteered at the pantry seven days a week since 2017, said he believes the new name will let more people know they can come to the pantry for help.
“I think it will make it a broader feeling of helping more people,” he said. “I think it will improve things.”
McKelvey said the name was changed to Gateway because Arnold is considered the gateway into Jefferson County, and the name also reflects the pantry’s mission.
“A gateway is an opening, and that is what we do here,” he said. “It is an opportunity to make a better life for all of our clients.”
Gateway Food Pantry logo
The new logo says, “GATEWAY FOOD PANTRY ARNOLD, MO,” in green letters with images of fruit, vegetables and meat over the top of it. Olivia Shoemake designed the logo.
“I wanted to update what they had, but I didn’t want to venture too far,” said Shoemake, a graphic designer for Latigo Creative of Kirkwood. “I think it is a fun, playful elevation from what they had to a more clean and simple design that can be transferred across a variety of platforms.”
McKelvey said the new logo will be used on the redesigned website, and the pantry’s goal is to use social media more effectively.
He also said the pantry will change the signage at its building and on its vans over the next few months.
“It will be a process,” he said. “It will take place over months and be done in phases.”
McKelvey said the pantry will share information about its expanded service area with school districts and other community organizations.
“We will work with the Fox and Windsor school districts to make sure all their social workers and counselors know they can utilize us as a resource,” he said. “It is about getting in the schools, the community and working with the police, social workers, Compass and everyone to make sure they know we can be a resource for them in the community.”
Fitzhenry compared the unveiling of the new name, logo and expanded coverage area to Christmas.
“We are opening up a new gift,” he said. “We are stepping up to another level. I am really excited about Patrick and his vision, and we have new board members who are going to do what they can to make sure we continue to move forward and help others.”