Concord crisis pantry runs out of food, closes doors

Oakland Tribune, Sep 24, 2008 by Tanya Rose

The Monument Crisis Center, a Concord food pantry that serves 5,000 people a month -- representing more than 1,600 families -- was forced to close its doors Wednesday after it ran out of food to give away.

Sara Loquin, assistant program manager for the five-year-old pantry, said the hope is to get sufficient food donations, and to buy food at good prices, to be able to reopen Monday.

"We closed early Tuesday because we ran out of food -- there is just nothing on the shelves here," Loquin said.

The non-profit emergency pantry relies on food and cash donations from the community and from businesses. Despite continued support from community food drives and from large corporate donations, food reserves have been low since last year's Thanksgiving-Christmas holiday season, Loquin said. At the same time, more people are coming through the doors each day asking for bags of groceries because of the ailing economy, she said.

"More individuals are losing their homes, jobs and spirits, and thus are coming to food pantries for help," said

Sandra Scherer, the center's executive director.

Last week alone, she said, the pantry gave food to 75 families, and Scherer expects that number to rise each week.

Both women said they hope publicity of the center's plight will result in donations this week.

The center is located at 2350 Monument Boulevard. To donate food or other resources, call 925-825-7751.