Charleston center helps fight hunger in Bootheel

Glenn Fennell Sr., executive director of the Shining LIght Outreach Center in Charleston, shows the Center's new freezer to Hudson Byrd. The estate of James L. Byrd III provided the funding to purchase the new freezer as well as a new truck which will be used in the Center's efforts to provide food for residents in the area.

CHARLESTON — In the fight against hunger, Shining Light Outreach Center serves as a beacon of hope for families across the region. Now, thanks to a gift from the estate of the late James L. Byrd III, the center will be better able to meet those needs.

Under the guidance of executive director Glenn Fennell Sr. and administrative assistant Alana Mills, the organization concentrates its efforts on food distribution.

“We are the only food distribution site in the area that does as many food distributions as we do. Most places only do once or twice a month, and we typically do four a week plus our monthly pantry,” said Mills.

Pictured from left are Hudson Byrd, Glenn Fennell Sr., executive director of the Shining Light Outreach Center, and Alana Mills, administrative assistant at the Center, with a plaque recognizing the James L. Byrd Estate for its gift to the Center. The estate provided funds for a new freezer and new truck which will be used in the Center's effort to provide food to area residents. (Jill Bock/Standard Democrat)

Located at 721 W. Marshall St., the center distributes produce and bakery items at approximately 10:30 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“We truly get thousands of pounds of produce and bakery items each day. It is good, quality produce. It is good, quality bread and bakery items,” said Mills. “These are available to anyone. You just come and take what you need.”

On the first, third and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 10 to 11 a.m. there is a drive-through food pantry. Those driving through typically receive a box with two meats, canned goods, dry goods and a pastry or bread. Mills pointed out these distributions are also open to anyone.

“People think there are certain income requirements to come get the food, but there is not. It is open to absolutely anyone,” Mills added. “We are still working to get the word out that anyone can come.”

According to Fennell, as more people learned about the free distributions, they have served not only the residents of Mississippi County, but also those from Benton, Scott City, Dexter and Poplar Bluff. Some have even come from Illinois and Kentucky, he said.

The third Saturday of the month is one of the busiest days for the Center. From 1 to 4 p.m. the Center provides food to Mississippi County residents only.

Working with the SEMO Food Bank and U.S. Department of Agriculture, the distribution provides a variety canned fruits and vegetables, a selection of three meats, cookies, breads and other items.

Volunteers check to ensure those receiving the items are Mississippi County residents. Mills said they also ask a few other questions.

“There are some income requirements but it is self-disclosed; that is a USDA rule. They can share that to the extent that they want to. It is very rare that people are turned away,” she explained.

Also in conjunction with the SEMO Food Bank, the Center offers a Senior Box program.

Working from an approved list, approximately 60 people 60 years of age and older are provided a box of non-perishable food items and a block of cheese. This distribution begins at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.

“We very rarely have any waste,” said Fennell about the distributions. “If there is something left over, we can then pass that out at the following distribution or it can even be boxed up for people in emergency situations.”

But providing all that food requires equipment.

Fennell said when he first signed on as executive director his goals were to obtain a new freezer and a new truck to make their operation run smoother. The James L. Byrd III estate enabled him to achieve those goals.

On a tour of the building, Fennell showed Hudson Byrd the freezer installed earlier this year. He noted volunteers can easily use the center’s pallet jack to move items in and out.

“And it is cold,” he emphasized. “It keeps things even below the temperature we need to have. It helps a whole lot.”

A new truck with a refrigeration unit is on order, with delivery expected in December. This will be used it to move temperature-sensitive goods from the SEMO Food Bank to the Center.

“And you don’t have to worry about shifting any gears. You can drive it. I can drive it,” Fennell said. “It is fancy, fancy.”

Hudson Byrd said his late cousin would be pleased by the positive effects his estate has had in helping the community.

“What is unique about Shining Light and about Charleston in general is that although we are a really small town, these organizations and others like them have an impact not only inside the county but outside the area as well,” he said. “It is pretty impressive.”

Such donations and the many volunteers who turn out for the food distributions are making a differences in the lives of many people Fennell and Mills agreed.

“So far, in 2024, we have served over 5,000 households, 3,100 individuals, 233 veterans and 321 children while providing over 126,450 pounds of food during our weekly, monthly and senior distributions,” Mills said.

Due to the number of distributions the center has each week and the current cost of food, they estimated the value of food they distribute from Walmart, Ruler, Aldi, Dollar General, SEMO Food Bank and the USDA to be over $3.6 million dollars per year.

“Shining Light is a great establishment that has been in this area for a long time. We hope more people will come in to see what we are doing and help out as volunteers or financially because we have a vast amount of people we are trying to take care of now,” Fennell said. “But thank the Lord we are able to keep our doors open and give back.

Shining Light Outreach Center maintains a Facebook page showing its distribution dates and times along with information about other services. For more information, to volunteer or to donate contact the Center through their Facebook page or by calling the office at (573) 683-2555.