CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – St. Peter’s AME Church in Clarksville has launched a Grocery Grab Giveaway Community Food Pantry to help those in need. The focus of the program is on seniors and Austin Peay State University students.

Dr. Johnnie Smith is the organizer and director of the food pantry and is also part of the ministerial staff at the church. Smith said the church has worked for years with Loaves and Fishes to help provide food for people in need.

“That happened for maybe three or four years, and we just decided it was time now to have our own food pantry because we saw the need. We started the food pantry here at St. Peter’s in December of 2025 to allow people to come in and collect food for free.” Smith said

Smith said food from the pantry is available to guests every weekend at the church, 518 Franklin St. The pantry is open every Sunday between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. and anyone can schedule an appointment on Saturday.

“We need this because there are a lot of people in Montgomery County who do not have food to eat. Now there is probably enough food to eat for all areas in the community. There are some people who do not know how to access that food, or perhaps they are ashamed to let people know they have a need,” Smith said.

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Anyone is welcome to come in and get food, but they do have a target audience, which is senior citizens and Austin Peay State University students.

Smith said Loaves and Fishes was amazing in helping them get the food pantry off of the ground. 

New food pantry programs

St. Peter’s hey have just started what they call the “One-Dollar Campaign.” “What happens is, once they give their donation, we have a couple who matches that donation,” Smith said.

There’s also a new program planned for students at Austin Peay who have been living out of cars, or with five or six students living in one area. “We are going to provide a full dinner meal, everything, and give them a chance to get a shopping bag of groceries on their way out the door,” Smith said.

To find out more about the Grocery Grab Giveaway Community Food Pantry, call St. Peter’s AME Church at 931-647-4703, or email stpeterclarksville@gmail.com.

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