ST. IGNATIUS — With a spiffy, and spacious, new location, the Mission Valley Food Pantry is more prepared than ever to continue providing an essential community service.

The pantry is now at 203 Blaine Street in St. Ignatius, only about a block from its old location at 308 Crystal Street. But what a difference a block makes! According to Heidi Riddle, director of the pantry, the new building provides much-needed space.

“We have people come from all over – Mission, Charlo, Dixon, Moise, Arlee – and because they come from so far away, they often carpool,” Riddle said. The facility on Crystal Street felt packed with a few families, but the new location’s wide aisles can accommodate several groups of clients.

The tall shelves at 308 Blaine Street were packed with bags of snacks and cans of food during the pantry’s open house Thursday afternoon, but according to Riddle, they won’t stay that way for long.

“We’ve probably seen our number of clients double,” she said about the economy’s dire effect on local families.

While the pantry receives food from a number of sources, according to Riddle, they always appreciate community donations, particularly of non-perishable food items.

“Although, at this time of year we’ll also accept extra fruits and vegetables from the family garden,” she added.

For more information on the Mission Valley Food Pantry, call 745-5484.