SPANISH FORT, Ala— Spanish Fort’s Prodisee Pantry will celebrate its fifth anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday in the community room at Bryant Bank, at the corner of U.S. Highway 98 and 64 in Daphne; the event will include cake, coffee and conversation.

“It’s about getting together and recognizing their efforts and what really has come out of their efforts,” Deann Servos, executive director, said. “It couldn’t be done without a multitude of volunteers and prayers, time and money.

“It’s very humbling,” Servos said of the anniversary. “To watch and know all of the people’s hands that have been involved is extremely humbling.”

The Prodisee Pantry is a nonprofit, faith-based, organization that provides food and disaster relief to families that have trouble making ends meet. The pantry will supply food until the family becomes more stable, according to prodiseepantry.org, the pantry’s official Web site.

Food can be supplied for families, single parents, homeless persons, underemployed and unemployed households, the site said. 

“We see ‘thank you’ in so many ways,” Servos said. “We have families from all economic situations.”

The pantry opened Nov. 18, 2003 as an outreach ministry of Spanish Fort United Methodist Church. The pantry incorporated in 2005 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The pantry’s mission  is based on the Bible’s Matthew 25:35, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

In September, the pantry had an increase of 130 percent of families who came in to seek assistance since this time last year. About 467 families received assistance in September, according to a news release.

Since its beginning, the pantry has served more than 34,000 individuals and more than 12,000 families in the Baldwin County.

The pantry accepts food donations all year. Food contributions can be dropped off at Spanish Fort United Methodist Church—at 6530 Spanish Fort Blvd.—or monetary donations, which allow the pantry to purchase food in bulk from the Bay Area Food Bank, are also accepted, the site said.

The pantry accepts nonperishable food items, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, diapers and more.

Receipts are available for contributions, if needed.

For more information visit www.prodisee pantry.org or call 626-1720.