Many local opportunities are available for those who want to give or need assistance this holiday season.

The Cuba Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry has donation and volunteer opportunities. To donate or volunteer, call 573-885-6703. The food pantry is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., but it is best to call or check their Facebook page ahead of time before visiting. 

More information about pantry events or other community happenings, such as free community dinners or food drives, can also be found on their Facebook page.

Samantha Miller with Steelville R-3 School District said they aren’t having a food drive, but do welcome donations to the Backpack Program to help fight food insecurity for their students. 

“Families in our district facing food insecurity are always welcome to my Backpack Program, no income verification necessary,” Miller said. “If they ask about it, I add them to my list.”

Monetary donations are also welcome, as each bag typically runs $5 to $6 each, and is sent home with students every Friday during the school year, which includes summer school. 

Miller added that families may sign up for the local Shop with a Cop if they need help providing Christmas gifts to their children.

“We currently have over 100 students benefitting from our Shop with a Cop and Christmas Adoption programs,” Miller said. “We fundraise for Shop with a Cop year-round. Mike Sherman with (the) Steelville Police Department can handle donations for that.”

Executive Director Nancy Montgomery of the Saint James Caring Center - Food Distribution Center said many area residents rely on their services as a first defense against food insecurity.

“As the only food pantry in our service area, we serve a population where 19.1 percent live in poverty, 20 percent are seniors, and more than half of public-school children rely on free or reduced lunch programs,” said Montgomery.

Administrative Assistant Rita Comstock with the Food Pantry explained that the community is encouraged to donate monetarily so that orders may be tailored to the needs of the recipients. 

“Monetary donations are always the best since we’re a nonprofit organization and we can go shop for exactly what we need to fill,” said Comstock.

Montgomery went on to explain where most of the St. James Food Pantry's inventory comes from.

“Most of our food supply comes from the Food Bank in Columbia,” Montgomery said. “In 2025, our allocation was reduced to 60 percent, creating a significant shortfall.” 

Donations can be made through the website, which are then spent locally on purchasing items. They also hold a Commodity Day from 7:30-9:30 a.m. every third Thursday of the month.

“To qualify, clients must reside within the St. James School District and complete pre-registration, including photo ID for the head of household, documentation of family members, and two pieces of mail less than 30 days old verifying residency,” Montgomery said.  

The Meramec Community Mission Food Pantry in Sullivan is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first, second, third, and fourth Tuesdays of each month. They also have government commodities that are given out on the first and third Wednesdays of every month. 

The Meramec Community Mission Thrift Shop is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact them directly at 573-468-5813 or make monetary donations, so purchases may be tailored to community needs. 

Any clothing or food donations should be made during open hours before 2:30 p.m., when the donation acceptance window closes. All sales go to purchasing food for the food pantry and operational expenses. To receive updates on community events like local food drives, assistance information or weather updates for the food pantry, visit their Facebook page.