CALIFORNIA, Mo. - When the Cargill Cares Food Pantry asked Max Wachter to take over as the volunteer ordering and distribution manager, his wife had already been praying for a way to serve their neighbors with food.
Sherry Wachter was thinking a small soup kitchen. Instead, they help organize, coordinate volunteers, order items and distribute donated food to approximately 350 families each month. Plus, they help coordinate the Buddy Packs program, which provides a backpack of food to approximately 200 students in five Moniteau County schools.
The Wachters moved with their three children - Raymond, 24; Zackariah, 21; and Rheanna, 19 - to California in 2002 to get away from city living.
They helped with the monthly Central Missouri Food Bank mobile food pantry in Moniteau County for several years. Also, they served at summer feeding programs.
"We were always looking for opportunities to give back, make a difference and share that with the kids," Sherry Wachter said.
Then, after 35 years on the railroad, Max's life changed with an accident in 2011 that left him with a broken back.
However, "God can use that," he said.
Just more than a decade before, the couple had been drawn to church and restored their faith.
"God grabbed us and took us from there," he said.
Now the Wachters devote hundreds of volunteer hours each month at the food pantry.
The Cargill Cares Food Pantry, 303 Latham Road, is open for distribution 3-5 p.m. the first, second and third Thursday and Friday of each month, as well as 9-11 a.m. on the third Saturday.
Before families arrive to pick up food, community volunteers from churches to youth organizations to businesses have pitched in with either donated food items, money or hands-on time.
Food is sorted into consistent bags, so each individual receives approximately the same items within a given month. Wachter said the only items he pays for directly are canned goods, including fruit, beans, peas and corn.
In addition to the Central Missouri Food Bank and the USDA, which account for more than 85 percent of the donated food, businesses and organizations donate bread, meat and other perishable items, which can be stored in the pantry's industrial-size refrigerator and freezer.
A family of four usually leaves the pantry with at least two carts full of food, Wachter said.
The food pantry and the Project Share resale shop, both moved into the current location of the Moniteau Christian Ministries Center in spring 2014.
The Christian ministries became a 501(c)3 not-for-profit in 2010, combining four local ministries.
The Moniteau County Mobile Food Pantry started in 2000, the United Methodist Church Food Pantry started in 2001, the Buddy Packs began in 2010 and Project Share was organized in 2003 through the United Church of Christ.
These operations continue only with the support of the community through volunteers and donations.
Last month, the food pantry benefited from two community canned-good drives, delivering more than 2,000 pounds of food. The Turkey Barn of Terror and the Trick or Treat on Pinto Street each invited their guests to "pay" for admission with canned goods.
Now, the newly-formed Behind the Badge group, comprised of family members of California Police Department employees, will host a collection Monday through Friday, Dec. 11, at the police department.
The greatest need at this time is canned goods, diapers and other toiletries.
This is the first service project for the police families, said organizer Alena Ward.
"With the holidays upon us, we deemed a food drive as a good first project and chose the food pantry because it was local," Ward said. "We're excited about hosting a drive that benefits local families and all proceeds stay here in the community.
"We share the pride our husbands have for the community and decided we wanted to be more active in serving the community."