Annual food giveaway in Pinckneyville draws grateful crowd

PINCKNEYVILLE - People needing groceries to help feed their families turned out in droves Tuesday morning to receive an abundance of free supplies as provided by The Least of the Brethren food pantry on South Douglas Street in Pinckneyville.

The 11th annual drive-through food fair is organized each year by George and Betty Culley, in partnership with the St. Louis Area Food Bank.

At times, the line of cars spanned eight city blocks. The Culleys and a host of devoted volunteers braved the rain and gloomy weather to spread some sunshine and share some love this Easter week with each motorist who passed through.

"We enjoy helping feed the hungry," George Culley said. "We've had a food pantry for 21 years now and this food fair for the last 11 years. We serve about 350 families each month when we're open (Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon). People come from a 70-mile radius."

Culley said each family participating in the drive-through received a bag of groceries valued at about $300 and included produce, meat, bread, dairy products and a variety of non-perishable items.

"This is something we hope makes a difference in people's lives," he said.

Culley is pastor of The Least of the Brethren Ministries.

Daniel Herbst contributed to this story.