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LANCASTER, MO -- Those in need of food and clothing now have a place to go to for help.

The new Schuyler County Food Room and The Clothes & More Shoppe, a thrift store, in Lancaster celebrated with an open house Friday afternoon.

The event gave the community an opportunity to see the new building and the services it will offer. The new food pantry will provide food to those in need, while the thrift shop will have a variety of items for people to buy and help provide money for operating costs.

Project Fundraiser Chair Dwight Hart said the new facility will make it easier to help those who need it most.

"We will be able to serve more people in this community." Said Hart. "It's very likely that the number of people we serve will increase. I think the number we serve will increase because we will be far more accessible."

Hart also said that they are excited about the new facility and want to thank the community for its support.

"We are so blessed. The community has been so supportive of what we've done. Schuyler County is small with 4,500 people that we were able to build a building in this community completely paid for to serve others. The community should be thanked tremendously for this fine effort on their behalf."

Thanks to donations from the community and tax credits from the Missouri Department of Economic Development,  the project received enough money to make this happen.
    
The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri also pitched in, donating about $5,100 toward the project in Lancaster.