OWENSVILLE — Nine students in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) at Owensville High School on Feb. 27 helped volunteers at Helping Hands distribute food boxes to families.

Helping Hands Outreach Center of Gasconade County hosts the event where on the fourth Friday of every month, families from the county can come to reeceive boxes of food.

Families can come get perishable food items from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. that are distributed by the St. Louis Area Foodbank.

Owensville High School Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Teacher Rebecca Allen talked about her students.

“Community service is a big part of FCLA,” said Allen. “We try to do community service once a month.”

She talked about her students using the opportunity.

“Noticing the need in the community and how they can make a small difference,” said Allen when asked about what she hopes her students notice in the community.

She was handing out eggs to her students and they loaded up boxes and delivered out to people’s cars.

Senior Arianna Baguio talked about her FCLA experience.

“I guess the big thing with this club would be community service,” said Baugio.

There is not a certain amount of hours the club has to attain for community service.

March was the second time Allen’s students volunteered with the food pantry, they also helped out in February.

“This is Miss Allen’s first year of doing FCCLA,  I feel like with the previous FCCLA teacher, I think we’ve done this before,” said Baguio.

She talked about drop-ins for the pantry.

“Anyone can come down and get food,” said Baguio. “It’s a certain time period.”

The drop in hours for the pantry go until 1:30 p.m. during those Fridays.

“It makes me feel like I’m doing a good deed, it’s nice,” said Baguio when asked about volunteering as part of her club. “And the community hours will help with scholarships and stuff.”

Pat Peets, board of directors for the pantry, talked about the students.

“We rely on them (OHS) a lot and it makes a big difference,” said Peets. “We really appreciate the high school, because our volunteers are getting older.”

Additional food insecurity help is also available for those that are eligible.

The application requires that the applicant must be living in Gasconade County, the household receives some form of public assistance and has not received the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) commodities during the month that they apply for.

The pantry is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The board of directors for the pantry meets every third Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the center. Their next meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on March 16 at the center located at 3522 Kosark Road in Owensville.

The St. Louis Area Foodbank (SLFAB) posted about the event on their website.

“In partnership with the St. Louis Area Foodbank, Helping Hands Outreach Center is hosting a drive-through Food Access and Resource Market. Neighbors will have the opportunity to get a mix of fresh and nonperishable food items at no cost. The distribution will end at the stated time or once all the food and other resources have been distributed,” according to the St. Louis Area Foodbank. “This event is set up as a drive through distribution and volunteers and/or staff of the organization will put food directly into your car. We ask that you have space in your vehicle for the food items and that you do not leave your vehicle during the distribution. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the event.”