LINN—When Good Shepherd Food Pantry personnel announced a few weeks ago that their food supplies were dangerously low heading into the holidays, they never expected the outpouring of community support shown by Osage County residents.

On Oct. 26, Linn Community Christian Church posted on Facebook that they needed holiday foods such as chili beans, pork and beans, instant mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and canned pumpkin.

On Nov. 5, Good Shepherd Manager Edna Kliethermes posted that the pantry’s shelves had never been so bare. “The Food Bank from Columbia has dropped food donations to pantries by more than half,” Kliethermes posted. “In the last 7 months, the Good Shepherd Food Pantry here in Linn has spent over $31,000 in purchasing food from local stores.”

Kliethermes went on to say that the level of spending was not sustainable, reiterating that they are the only food pantry in Osage County. “If your business, church, school, or organization could host a food drive during the upcoming holiday season, we would be so very thankful,” Kliethermes continued, adding a list of items needed and noting that the pantry still has an ample supply of canned green beans, corn, and peas. “Osage County citizens are the most caring, generous, and loving citizens to those in need,” she said.

Kliethermes said the response from Osage County was overwhelming.

Commissioners approved Osage County Health Department Administrator Kim Sallin’s request to hold a food drive utilizing their drive-thru window to facilitate donation. The drive began on Halloween.

Heritage Community Bank in Chamois started a food drive from Nov. 1-29.

On Nov. 10, the Fatima Elementary PTO announced that they were donating $500 to the food pantry.

However, the real food flood started with a Facebook challenge to fill a shopping cart (or three) with donations for the food pantry. It’s impossible to credit all the participants; however, the challenge appears to have started with a large donation from Band Properties, and photos show additional donations from Lee Outdoors, State Tech, Osage Ambulances, Dave’s Pizza and Wings, Osage Brick and Stone, Linn Printing, Moonlight Dent, Three Rivers Electric Cooperative, Casper’s 66, 4Js Towing, M&D Electric.

Linn Community Christian Church posted Sunday that Edna and the other volunteers are “in awe at the outpouring of community support. The food drives have been essential in filling the shelves and with more coming in, families with needs are being helped through everyone’s generosity, blessings, and love.”

Although donations are pouring in, the food pantry is still in need of items such as canned fruit, flour, and sugar, and the need for food will remain the same after the holidays.