Andie Williams has taken over as director of operations at the Peace Pantry in Cedar Hill.
She took over that job on June 10, replacing Robert Hanners, who held the job since 2015 but is retiring.
In her new job, Williams, 29, of St. Louis is responsible for overseeing all the food pantry’s operations, including food sourcing and distribution; adhering to program guidelines and applying for grants. She also will oversee the pantry’s thrift store operations.
Williams previously worked four years for the St. Louis Area Food Bank as a partner relationship coordinator and would inspect Jefferson County and St. Louis food pantries.
“I used to visit Robert and his pantry at least once a year for their inspection – that’s how I became aware of Peace Pantry,” Williams said. “They were looking for a director, and I was definitely interested. I really love Peace Pantry.”
Hanners, 79, who first got involved with the Peace Pantry as a volunteer, said it was time for him to start preparing someone else to take over the director of operations role so he could retire.
“I will be 80 in September,” Hanners said. “It makes sense for me to take a step back right now. Basically, I’m on the backside of life. I’m afraid if I don’t step back and let somebody else step in, I’m going to croak, and then we would have an issue.”
Williams said Hanners is still working at the pantry, teaching her “the ropes.”
Williams said she is originally from the suburbs of Chicago and graduated from Illinois State University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in social work before going on to earn a master’s degree in social work at Washington University a year later.
She said she made many connections with local nonprofit groups while she was in graduate school.
“You build relationships with people in the community, and I think that’s what really kept me here (in St. Louis),” Williams said. “It’s a small community of nonprofits, I’ve even learned through (the Peace Pantry) already that we all seem to know a lot of the same people.”
Williams worked as a case manager at BJC Healthcare in the Behavioral Health, Children and Families division for a little over a year before getting involved in food security in the St. Louis area and going to work for the St. Louis Area Food Bank.
“I’m really passionate about that specific field (in food security), so I think I’ve found my calling,” Williams said. “That’s what led me to the Peace Pantry. The obstacle we’re facing right now is just making sure that we source enough food, that we’ve got enough food for people to eat, that’s always a constant, but especially in the past year.”
Hanners said the cost of food has increased dramatically in recent years, and he is forced to drive farther to pick up food deliveries.
Peace Pantry, 8100 S. Industrial Drive, is open to provide food assistance from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursdays. The pantry accepts donations from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Donations also may be arranged by calling 636-285-0934.
The pantry provides support services for families in House Springs, Cedar Hill, Dittmer, Morse Mill, Grubville, and the parts of Catawissa and Robertsville located in Jefferson County. Williams said the pantry provides food to about 250-275 households per week, and last year the pantry helped about 30,000 total people.
The thrift store, located in the same building, is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
For more information, visit the pantry’s website at peacepantry.org.