ARNOLD, Mo. - Patrick McKelvey, executive director of the Gateway Food Pantry in Arnold, points to a March tornado and current economic conditions as reasons for why many of the pantry’s reserve shelves are empty.

“We’ve never seen our reserve food supplies so low before,” he said. “This is something we did not see coming.”

McKelvey said the value of food on their shelves this year through August is more than $300,000 less than what it was last year at this time.

“We’re trying to fight a wildfire with a water gun right now,” he said. “We don’t have the ability to make up a $300,000 loss in food supply.”

McKelvey is turning to the public for help. Pantry supporters are delivering empty bags to 20,000 area households to request donations.

“This is the Hail Mary,” said McKelvey. “You can

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