News (page 5)

2020 Turkey Trot STL

Gather your flock and celebrate Thanksgiving by joining us for @TurkeyTrotSTL!

Benefiting @OASISFoodPantry, choose your swag and receive FREE packet shipping. Register with code ‘GOBBLE’ to receive $2 off registration. TTSTL.com

O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry News for October/November 2020

The O.A.S.I.S. board of Directors would like to welcome two new Church-based Opening Teams to the pantry. A team from New Life Christian Church located in O’Fallon will be managing the 4th Thursday PM pantry opening; and a team from St. Charles Christian Church in St. Charles will manage the third Saturday AM pantry opening. Please welcome these new pantry volunteers and partners in our mission to care for those less fortunate in our community.

Thrift Store Update
The O.A.S.I.S. Thrift Store needs a temporary Saturday volunteer. If you or someone you know might be interested in helping out on Saturdays from 10:00am – 3:00pm please call or email the food pantry at (636) 284-8962 or oasisthriftstorestcharles@gmail.com.

The thrift store is taking gently used household items such as:

  • Home décor
  • Children’s books
  • Children’s toys
  • Furniture–tables, chairs, chests, shelves, couches
  • No clothing at this time

Please take donations to the Thrift Store at 1812 Boone’s Lick Road, St. Charles, MO. The Thrift Store hours are 10:00AM to 3:00PM Wednesday through Saturday.

***All Thrift Store revenue is used in support of the O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry***

Boy Scouts Scouting for Food – Canned Food Drive
On Saturday, November 14th thousands of Scouts will deliver more than 1 million blue Scouting for Food bags throughout the St. Louis metro area, southeast Missouri, and southern Illinois. They will return one week later on November 21 to collect the bags full of donated canned goods.

By giving to Scouting For Food, residents are helping those in need right in their own community. In St. Charles County, Scouts take donations directly to local food pantries including O.A.S.I.S. Residents who do not receive a bag can take canned food donations to any Goodwill store location Nov.
22-28 or donate virtually. To donate virtually to the St. Louis Food Bank or Operation Food Search just text ‘SCOUTFOOD’ to 91999.

Pantry Donations
Currently the pantry is not accepting donations of personal-sized hygiene items or paper grocery sacks. Food or hygiene donations for the following standard items would be appreciated. Please no glass containers.

Food Items

  • Peanut butter
  • Jelly
  • Canned fruit
  • Canned pasta sauce
  • White rice
  • Canned soup
  • Canned meat (chili, ravioli)
  • Jell-O or pudding mix
  • Canned tuna
  • Canned sloppy Joe mix
  • Cake Mix
  • Canned frosting
  • Breakfast cereal
  • Pancake mix
  • Syrup
  • Instant potatoes
  • Pasta side dishes
  • Rice
  • Beef or Chicken Broth
  • Hamburger Helper
  • Corn muffin mix

Personal Hygiene Items

  • Deodorant
  • Toothpaste
  • Shampoo
  • Laundry Detergent

Thank you for supporting the O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry.
The O.A.S.I.S. Board of Directors

Food Distribution Event – Saturday, Aug. 22

Food Distribution Event

Saturday, August 22, 2020
4:00PM – 6:00PM CDT

Connections to Success and Gateway Human Trafficking are partnering with the Muslim Community Services of St. Louis on August 22, 2020 on the CtS parking lot at 3000 Little Hills Expy Suite 101, St Charles, MO 63301 for a Food Distribution event. This Food Distribution is a drive-through food distribution and is open to the community. It will place from 4pm – 6pm.

In this time of COVID-19 pandemic, more community members and parents who are struggling financially may benefit from this service. It is a drive-through food distribution project and all volunteers abide by social distancing requirements and guidelines.

For more information please contact: Tandra Parks | Volunteer and Mentor Coordinator at tparks@connectionstosuccess.org

O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry News for August/September 2020

Children’s Summer Food Program

Many school-children miss meals when school is not in session. To combat childhood hunger in St. Charles County the O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry provides extra food for families with school-aged children during the summer months. This summer each school-aged child received additional breakfast cereal, mac-n-cheese, granola bars, applesauce, fruit cups, canned pasta with meat, raisins, juice, hotdogs, and sliced American cheese.  In
addition to the O.A.S.I.S. Summer Food Program, St. Charles County school districts, Neighbors Helping Neighbors Coalition, and the STL Area Food Bank supplied food and hosted regular open-market events for families with school-aged children.  You can be proud that St. Charles County agencies are focused on the welfare of our children.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

St. Charles County recently offered PPE grants to organizations serving our community.  O.A.S.I.S. received hundreds of rubber gloves, KN95 masks, and 3,000 paper surgical masks.  Additionally, the food pantry purchased several hundred 8 oz. bottles of hand sanitizers.  With the PPE grant and sanitizer purchase our client’s personal hygiene kits now include 5 surgical masks and a bottle of hand sanitizer.

Thank You!

O.A.S.I.S. has been blessed this year with donations of food and funding. The board would like to thank all organizations and groups that held food drives for O.A.S.I.S., those who generously provided funding, and the dedicated volunteers who help keep the pantry doors open during this pandemic. These are unique and fearful times for everyone in our community. Please keep the O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry, our volunteers, clients, and supporters in your prayers as we tackle new and unforeseen challenges continuing our mission to do God’s Work.

The O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry Board of Directors

Mask Up St. Charles County Event on Thursday, Aug. 6

St. Charles County’s free mask distribution program to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus continues next week with a “Mask Up Pick-Up” event for county residents. To date, County Government has distributed nearly 500,000 masks throughout the county to libraries, businesses, churches, restaurants, schools and non-profit agencies. Masks have been provided for all County employees and to the public when entering County buildings as well. The masks

are funded through the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The first “Mask Up Pick-Up” drive-through event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6 at Liberty High School, 2275 Sommers Road in Lake Saint Louis. Approximately 30,000 masks will be distributed on the parking lot near the school’s main entrance; residents are asked to remain in their vehicles while picking up their masks. Each resident will receive 10 free disposable masks which have been placed in bags by workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Those distributing them at this event will be wearing masks and gloves as well.

“It is our hope that those who are not wearing masks because they don’t have them will stop by,” says St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, “and that they will continue seeking out places to find additional masks they may need to get through this pandemic. It is extremely important for us all to wear masks while in public to help protect the community from this highly contagious disease.”

Ehlmann says additional mask giveaway events are being planned, but that those who are unable to attend the Aug. 6 event also can visit their local St. Charles City-County Library where the County has provided masks for public distribution.

“Mask up, St Charles County! Let’s keep safe and healthy,” Ehlmann says. Those who have symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, dry cough and  shortness of breath, should call the St. Charles County Public Health Information Hotline at 636-949-1899. For information regarding COVID-19 and updated statistics, visit sccmo.org/COVID. For questions concerning the Aug. 6 event, contact Molly Dempsey, Community Relations Manager, at 636-949-7900, ext. 3724, or mtdempsey@sccmo.org.

MORE INFO

Introducing Pandemic EBT!

Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT, is a new federal program for families who lost access to school meals because of the COVID-19 pandemic. P-EBT is a one-time payment available to households with children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.  The maximum P-EBT payment is $302 for each eligible child (pre-K to 12th grade).

The deadline for P-EBT is fast approaching!  Applications must be submitted by June 30.  Can you help us make sure all Missouri families know about this opportunity?  Download and share the resources below.

Downloadable Resources:

For more food resources, check out our website:  GetHelp.OperationFoodSearch.org 

Pantry Reopening In July!

The O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry is pleased to announce the pantry will re-open this July  staffed with our regular volunteers and an updated food distribution process. The updated food distribution process incorporates social distancing and additional sanitizing to meet St. Charles Health Department Covid-19 Guidelines. This is a big step, but there has been a lot of planning and re-organizing of the current food distribution method, and we are confident the updated process will keep pantry volunteers and clients safe while still continuing the mission to care for those less fortunate in our community.

Thank you for collecting and donating canned goods and clean egg cartons through your churches.  Only one-dozen sized egg cartons are needed. For food donation specifics, visit http://oasisfoodpantry.com/how-to-help/ for a printable shopping list. Whether big or small every donation helps those in need.

The O.A.S.I.S. Board members wish to thank all our volunteers and supporters who have given their time, talents, and gifts over the last 30 years and during the pandemic to keep the Food Pantry doors open.

To be a volunteer and supporter, it takes…

Generosity, a willingness to give your time, talents, and gifts to others.
Understanding, because their lives might be very different from your own.
Empathy, an ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and feel what they must feel.
Compassion, to truly care about making someone else’s life better.
Patience, because the process doesn’t always go as smoothly as it might.
Dedication, to stick with the project and see it through.

You’ve shown these qualities and so much more, so thank you for all that you do.

O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry and Thrift Store

Board of Directors

Thrivent Matching Grant

In response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19, we are excited to be partnering with Thrivent Member Network – Heartland Region in an effort to help out-match hunger!

For the month of May, the Thrivent Member Network – Heartland Region will match every $2 with $1 given, up to a maximum of $2,000 from Thrivent.

Thrivent is committed to helping members be wise with money and give back to the causes and people they care most about. To make a donation, click on the link below. Our goal is to raise $4,000.00 from this campaign to purchase a much needed 3-door refrigerator.  Just click on the link below and follow to the Facebook page to make your donation. Thank you for your support.

Oasis Food Pantry- https://thrivent.cotribute.co/events/406110/detail