From Seeking Help to Offering Help

Vicki Rush and God’s Pantry

Over 17 years ago, Vicki Rushing found herself in need of food assistance. When she didn’t qualify due to age restrictions — an obstacle many know too well — she was advised to contact Second Harvest. That simple piece of advice changed everything — not just meeting her immediate needs but planting the seed for what would become her life’s work.

Today, the Jennings community knows Ms. Vicki as the dedicated leader of God’s Pantry, a food pantry that’s been serving as a lifeline to approximately 2,000 families across Jeff Davis Parish since March 2, 2020. With Second Harvest as a proud partner, God’s Pantry goes beyond food distribution. It’s a place where everyone is treated like family. It’s a hub of generosity, community, and hope. With its guiding principle, “Loving God, loving each other,” God’s Pantry embodies the spirit of service.

Fully equipped with dry goods storage, large freezers, and refrigeration, God’s Pantry provides full, nutritious meal ingredients to neighbors in need. As a Grocery Rescue partner with Walmart, the pantry also saves fresh produce and dairy from waste. Beyond food, it offers local students volunteer opportunities, helping to foster a sense of responsibility and community involvement in the next generation.

Despite its impact, God’s Pantry faces growing financial challenges. Rising costs for rent, utilities, and maintenance are difficult to sustain, and Ms. Vicki has personally shouldered much of the cost for years. Yet, her determination and partnership with Second Harvest ensure the pantry remains open and food is provided twice a month, rain or shine. Now, with Second Harvest’s new distribution center in Lake Charles less than 30 minutes away from God’s Pantry, Ms. Vicki will have more opportunities to pick up more food from Second Harvest when the Jeff Davis community needs it.

Your support — through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word — can help ensure pantries like God’s Pantry can continue to nourish both bodies and spirits in the years to come. Your support helps the next Vicki Rushing find their calling

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