CHESTER – The Chester Area Christian Food Pantry Mobile Market was held Wednesday, October 22.
Chester High School volunteers pose for a photo at the end of the October 22, 2025, Chester Area Christian Food Pantry Mobile Market. (Left to right) Amy Miller, CHS Teacher, Leslie Asbury, Mackenzie Deimund, Peyton Dixon, Brookelynn McClain, Ella Jackson, and Angie Werner, CHS Para-professional. The CHS group is loyal, consistent, and does a great job of assisting adult staff each month at the Mobile Market. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester Area Christian Food Pantry Mobile Market lost a loyal volunteer November 1 as Lee Hollaway (right) moved to Northern Illinois to be closer to family. After being in Chester for numerous decades, Hollaway, who was very active in many civic programs, will be missed very much. Pictured here, Hollaway (right) poses with food pantry Manager, Bob Koenegstein (left), at the October 2025 Mobile Market. In the St. Louis Area Food Bank Truck is Jon Nunnery. Farewell good servant, Lee Hollaway. You will be missed! Jim Beers Photo
More than 25 volunteers unload and sort food to be distributed to visitors at the October 2025 Mobile Market. The monthly event is sponsored by the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry, which is managed by Bob Koenegstein, a member of the First United Methodist Church in Chester. Some of the items offered at the event include potatoes, Apples, fig bars, cheese puffs, pastries, pop tarts, bags of assorted meats, cocoa mix, mixed candies, Hostess Honey Buns, Ice Cream Klondike Bars, and miscellaneous bags of assorted foods. For the month of August 2025, the Food Pantry served 225 households that had 586 individuals, 213 of which were children. The Pantry currently need donations of boxed dinners, soups, crackers, canned meats, and canned vegetables. Monetary donations are always welcomed to purchase items that are not donated. The next Mobile Market will be held the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday November 26. The eve3nt is held at the Cohen Recreation Complex at 8 a.m. Vouchers can be obtained at the CACFP at the Koeneman Acres Housing Project on Wednesdays from 9-2. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School students Peyton Dixon and Ella Jackson help prepare food items to be distributed to visitors at the October 2025 Chester Area Christian Food Pantry Mobile Market. Both students are regular volunteers at the monthly Mobile Market events and enjoy helping feed those in need of food support. Jim Beers Photo