Exciting new things are happening in Reeds Spring with Christian Action Ministries (CAM). They are opening a Food Pantry & Distribution Center in the Old Gibson Tech Center. It will be open for “shopping” with the help of LifeSong volunteers every 3rd Wednesday from 4:30-6:15pm. First Pantry Distribution will be May 20th.
LifeSong Volunteers Needed!!! Here is all the details of the new food pantry distribution and what volunteers that will be needed.
2026 CAM-LIFESONG FOOD DISTRIBUTION NEW INFORMATION
Beginning in May 2026, Christian Action Ministries (CAM) is opening a new Stone County Food Pantry and Distribution Center in Reeds Spring. It will be located directly across Hwy 76 from LifeSong at the old Gibson Technical Center. The Food Pantry will be open every Monday for 3 hours, as well as for food distributions such as LifeSong’s at other times once per month. As a result of the opening of this new facility, THREE major changes in LifeSong’s monthly food distribution outreach will occur:
1. Our distribution DATE will change to the THIRD Wednesday of the month, rather than the current 4th Wednesday – which will then mean that we will not have to change dates in November and December to account for the holidays. It will now be the 3rd Wednesday year-round. Our first distribution will be Wednesday, May 20.
2. Our distribution TIME will change to 4:30-6:15 pm, rather than the current 5:00-6:15 pm.
3. Our distribution LOCATION will change to the new facility stated above.
There will also be changes as to how the distribution will work. Just like CAM’s main facility in Branson, the new facility here will become a “CLIENT-CHOICE” type of pantry. This means that the people will actually “SHOP” for their groceries just like they would at the store, picking and choosing the items they want based on their family’s needs. There will be parameters for how much they are allowed to take, of course, and how this will all work will be explained at our first distribution. I can tell you from witnessing this pantry model at the Branson facility, that our clients here will love this new system! They will receive SO MUCH MORE than under our current system. This also means that there will no longer be “pre-bagged” groceries that we will have to load ahead of time and no trucks to unload!
Here is how our distribution will work in general:
1. The clients will check in with a CAM staff member (just as it is done currently).
2. The clients will then meet with a “Care Coach” to have an opportunity to discuss special needs, prayer requests, other services they might need, etc. LIFESONG WILL SUPPLY THE CARE COACHES, and they do basically the same things that we do currently with Pastor Jayne, Larry, and others. The hope is that we will have 2-3 volunteers available for this duty at each distribution.
3. The clients will then receive a “card” (that lists how much of each item category they will receive based on their family size), get a shopping cart, and will go through the shopping process – escorted and assisted by “Distribution Volunteers.” LIFESONG WILL SUPPLY THE DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS, and the hope is that we will have 4-6 volunteers available for this duty at each distribution.
4. Once done shopping, the clients will go to a “Bagging Station” to bag their groceries, assisted by volunteer “Baggers.” LIFESONG WILL SUPPLY THE BAGGERS, and the hope is that we have 2-3 baggers available for this duty at each distribution.
5. Once the client’s groceries are bagged, they will be assisted back to their vehicles by “Runners.” LIFESONG WILL SUPPLY THE RUNNERS, just as we do currently, and the hope is that we have 3-4 runners available for this duty at each distribution.
This is how the new system will basically work. I know there will be questions, but we will work through them all and everything will be OK. CAM will have extra staff members working with us at the first distribution on May 20 to help train us and facilitate the transition. CAM is also working on a site within their new facility for LifeSong to store extra items that we receive from Convoy of Hope, so we won’t have to move them over there from our hangar. And finally, CAM will provide new banners and signage to help direct clients to the new location.
Please be in prayer for both CAM and LIFESONG as we embark on this new endeavor together and continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community and share His love with our neighbors in need.
