The Gateway Food Pantry in Arnold collected about $75,000 from its Taste of Arnold event, executive director Patrick McKelvey said.
“This will help us fulfill our mission,” he said. “It will make sure our shelves never go empty. That is what it is all about at the food pantry. It is about serving our clients.”
The Taste of Arnold was held Nov. 13 at the Arnold Recreation Center. The proceeds benefited Gateway, which changed its name from Arnold Food Pantry in June.
McKelvey said initially only 200 tickets were sold for the event. However, the Arnold Parks and Recreation Department staff worked with the pantry to expand that to 250 people.
“The Arnold Recreation Center is the best,” he said. “We have been there for quite a while, but they took it to the next level this year. The planning was incredible. We want to thank Karen Fay (maintenance and procurement coordinator), Dave Crutchley (parks and recreation director) and the staff for all of their hard work on this. The rec center was such a great host as they always are.”
Gateway changed the format of the event, which returned last year following a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of having various area restaurants supply food, pantry Board of Directors member Adam Lambay, the executive chef at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, prepared the evening’s meal.
McKelvey said the format changed because many restaurants were unable to participate in the event. He said about 20 Arnold and Kimmswick restaurants donated gift cards that were given away as attendance prizes.
McKelvey said the new format was a hit.
“I think everyone loved Adam Lambay’s cooking,” he said. “I heard rave reviews all night about how good the food was and how much better the setup was this year. I am very happy that we were able to improve on last year.”
McKelvey said it was great to see how many Arnold community members attended the event and showed their support for the food pantry.
He said Mayor Ron Counts, State Rep. Phil Amato and members of the City Council, Arnold Chamber of Commerce, Arnold Rotary Club, Meramec Arnold Eagles and other area organizations attended the Taste of Arnold.
“When we changed our name from Arnold to Gateway, the No. 1 concern was we didn’t want to lose our identity of being located in Arnold and how important Arnold is to us,” McKelvey said. “I think by having all of those important pillars of the Arnold community there, it showed the city of Arnold is important to us. Also, the city of Arnold came together to make this our most successful Taste of Arnold ever.”
Gateway, 2024 Key West Drive, 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.
Those seeking assistance or wanting to donate may visit gatewayfoodpantry.org or call 636-287-3663. Gateway Food Pantry is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8-10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.