The St. Clare’s Food Pantry is open each Wednesday, 2 to 5 p.m. and works out of a small camp trailer parked at the front of the store parking lot, 3719Cleveland Blvd, Caldwell..  Since opening Sept. 1, 1999,  St. Clare’s has served more than 700 individuals: about one-third are adults and two-thirds are children. 

From four to 27 families receive food boxes each week. Need is the qualifier, based on the fact that food is essential to life.  The family representative fills out a short application and is interviewed to ascertain the circumstances of need. 

Usually, the family breadwinner has just lost a job, or has been out of work for several weeks.  The family is waiting for a determination of eligibility for unemployment benefits or, in the case of illness, eligibility for Social Service Insurance. Often, monthly family income is small - from $250 to $800 - and the family numbers from one to 10 members. 

Others are passing through; some are homeless. There are no general income guidelines in the uncertain world of the hungry.

Those on a small income, usually a regular Social Security payment, are limited to once-a-month boxes; those who are temporarily unable to buy food receive a box twice a month until their situation improves. Financial counseling is provided through the SVDP Outreach Office at the same location.

Food is given as it is available.  The small trailer is usually emptied each week.  All work is volunteer.  Bill and Kathryn Beumeler, Middleton, head the group; Sandy Hill, Nampa; Sandy Roth, Bonda Hearrin and Aggie Thompson, all of Caldwell,  take turns in helping fill boxes -- as they are requested on the spot.  A basic box contains protein, starch, cereal, fruit and vegetables, sauces and a treat.

Funding is through voluntary donations and fund raisers. A large flea market at the SVDP parking lot in September netted about $600.  St. David’s Episcopal Church, Caldwell, granted $500 matching an anonymous $500 donation to provide startup money.  Several other anonymous gifts and  donors have sustained the service. 

The SVDP Food Bank of Nampa has donated a considerable amount of canned goods as have the members of St. David’s. Individuals have brought food on Wednesdays to be distributed. 
Local farmers have donated dried beans, pumpkins, squash, onions and potatoes.  The
majority of canned foods are purchased at the Idaho Foodbank in Boise.

The Food Pantry Director, Kathryn Beumeler, invites other church groups and individuals to contribute either food or funds year round.  Food barrels have been set up in Canyon County by Treasure Valley Community Resource Center, Inc., and the pantry shares in those donations.

A long-term goal is to coordinate with other organizations and church groups to provide a larger food service to the community. Beumeler is seeking money through grants and personal requests to construct a permanent building on the SVDP site. A huge drawback at present is the lack of work space and refrigerated and frozen storage.  The hoped-for new facility would have
shelving for dry and canned storage, a refrigerator and a freezer; office space and work space.