Cassville Pantry director, Janet Mills, she’s never seen days like this.

“People are experiencing increased anxiety regarding food insecurity, because they are facing so many unknowns, particularly with the holidays coming up,” she said. “During Thanksgiving and Christmas, people like to be able to provide special meals — beyond the basics — but this year, they’re struggling to access even the basics.”

The Cassville Pantry provides supplemental food resources to families who are struggling. About 40% of patrons are on fixed incomes: either retirees or disabled, Mills said.

Mills said she was bracing for an increased volume of patrons going into November, so the number of people she’s seeing is not unexpected.

“Our volume of requests is up maybe 30-35% over our normal volume, on a daily basis,” she said. “For many of those patrons, it’s the first time they’ve asked for food assistance. Many times, it’s the last thing people want to do — to ask for help — but it’s an important first step. I want to let them know they’re not going to be judged for asking and accepting help.”

Mills said she and Pantry volunteers are buckled in to serve as best they can during this time of increased volume.

“We’re just going along for the ride,” she said. “As long as we have food, we’ll give it away.”

Mills said she refuses to give in to despair, even though there are times she isn’t sure where the Pantry’s provisions will come from.

“We thrive on hope, and refuse to give in to fear,” she said. “We do what we can do.”

Contributing even in a small way, like providing a meal, can have a big impact on people, Mills said.

“When you’re hungry, you feel disabled from productivity,” she said. “My goal, as an agent of Christ, is to help bring people out of despair, show them they’re not alone, that they’re not abandoned, and to show them the strength they have.”

Mills said that Cassville is a community with a big heart, and residents are helping with that ministry.

“We’ve had a lot of businesses and individuals stepping forward to contribute in response to news about upcoming food shortages,” Mills said. “That’s why God blesses this outreach, because we care for the people who are hungry. He works on hearts. That’s the reason I carry on, because I know there will be provision.”

That provision, Mills said, is something she’s witnessed numerous times during her 23 years of serving the community.

The Cassville Pantry, located at 798 W. 10th Street, in Cassville, is open to Barry County residents Monday to Thursday, from 9-11:15 a.m., and Thursday, from 3:15-5 p.m.

Half of the proceeds from the Barry County Bake Off & Dessert Benefit Auction, hosted by the Troutman Foundation, will benefit the Cassville Pantry. The other half will benefit The Generations Project, a new Cassville-based non-profit formed to also provide food and other resources to residents in need.

The benefit dessert auction will begin at 5 p.m. at the Crowder Community Center at 4020 N. Main Street, in Cassville. The Rib Steakhouse, a sponsor of the event, will provide a light meal, for $5 each or freewill contribution. Live music will be provided by keyboard/vocalist Cindy Edwards, of Springfield. Guest speaker Kaitlyn McConnell, publisher of digital magazine Ozarks Alive, will talk about the history of pie suppers in the Ozarks, as well as the makings of her own “pie book,” a labor of love consisting of 48 vintage Ozarks pie recipes, as well as the stories of a few Ozarks pie-makers. Cassville auctioneer Donnie Stumpff will begin auctioning pies, cakes and other donated auction items beginning around 6 p.m.

To submit an entry for “Best in Show” in Pie and Cake categories, or to donate desserts aside from the contest, people may visit the event’s page on the Cassville Democrat’s Facebook page for rules.