From a closet to a community lifeline: The inspiring growth of Bulldog Pantry

Brittany Fayette and Rex DeWitt pack Christmas boxes for the Bulldog Pantry Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Lee Hunter Elementary. Every year, Bulldog Pantry hands out Christmas boxes to families in need.

Gina Curtis/Standard Democrat

SIKESTON — Last week the Sikeston Bulldog Pantry distributed 240 bags and 80 boxes in celebration of Christmas.

Bulldog Pantry provides food, clothing and other necessities to those in need throughout the school district.

Retired Sikeston R-6 educator Lynne DeWitt and school resource officer Brent Mullin created the Bulldog Pantry at Lee Hunter Elementary with a goal to make a storage area of supplies for Lee Hunter students. Over the years, it has grown tremendously. 

“We started out real small; in the beginning we were just in a closet,” DeWitt said. 

The pantry proved to be so successful, it expanded to two storage sheds full of items to fit the needs of students and families throughout the entire R-6 district.

According to DeWitt, this year for Christmas, the Pantry gave out lots of food, snacks and other items for Christmas to all the students in need that are in the school district.

“We gave out  any food you could imagine,” DeWitt said. “We gave out breakfast food, pancakes, maple syrup, coloring books and crayons, candy canes, microwave popcorn, Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes and little blankets.

DeWitt continued: “Each year we give out to 80 families and all of our Backpacks for Fridays kids get a Christmas bag,” DeWitt said. 

During the last week of school before Christmas break, on Tuesday, Dec. 17, the schools gave out the Bulldog Pantry Christmas bags when the students went home, and then on Thursday, the Christmas boxes were delivered to the families.

According to Mullin, they also gave out frozen turkey breasts for Christmas along with many other holiday foods. 

DeWitt said she has received a lot of feedback and thank-you notes from many families.

Mullin said Bulldog Pantry is a great thing in Sikeston.

“Bulldog Pantry is important because you don’t realize how many people need help until you start getting involved and actually see it,” Mullins said. “The pantry around this time of year helps give students a better Christmas and allows them to have a Christmas dinner.”

To donate to Bulldog Pantry, contact them on their Facebook page, Bulldog Pantry, LLC.