St. Johns Students Donate to Senior Center Food Pantry

If qualifying seniors would have stopped by the Gulfport Senior Center's food pantry for pet food before 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, they would have left empty handed. The food pantry's bottom shelf, normally filled with pet food for dogs and cats, was completely empty.

"We're low on everything," Senior Center Coordinator Cynthia Dean said.

But, now, officials won't have to turn away those who can't afford pet food.

That's because Elizabeth Boyce's sixth grade homeroom class collected and carried in boxes of pet food around 11:40 on Thursday.

The group of 22 students helped give back as part of St. John's Catholic School's Week at St. John's Catholic School in St. Pete Beach. Boyce and her class learned of the need from Stephanie Ogden. Odgen retired from St. John's Catholic School and now works at the Snack Bar at the Gulfport Senior Center.

In addition to donations, the students presented a folder filled with their personal stories of their pets at home.

Susan Frank, Gulfport Senior Center Supervisor, said they'll enjoy reading the stories.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of St. John's Catholic School. Learn more about the school on their website.

Want to donate?

The Gulfport Senior Center Food Pantry is in great need of canned goods, cereal, tuna, other canned meats and pet food.

"If you're low income, you don't buy pet food on food stamps and people have had to give away pets because they can't afford it," Dean said.

About the Food Pantry

To qualify you must be 50 years of age or older, be a Gulfport resident, and show you have an income that is considered at the poverty level, based on government guidelines. Other forms of eligibility for local seniors includes documentation showing you are on food stamps, relying on supplemental Social Security for income, are a Medicaid recipient or for shelter live in public housing as a Section 8 resident in Gulfport.