Missionary outreach at St. Jude’s Episcopal in Orange City extends not only to the general public, but to pets as well.

The Rev. Phyllis Bartle on Monday, July 30, announced the development of a pet food pantry to run alongside the existing food pantry at the west Volusia County church, located 25 miles from Daytona Beach and 29 miles from Orlando.

“A delightful development of the food pantry is the pet food pantry,” said Bartle, who is one of the diocese’s premier spokespeople on the subject of stewardship. “We have partnered with community outreach to offer pet food also for those of our brothers and sisters whose canine and feline companions need food, too.”

The St. Jude’s pantry is open weekly on Tuesday morning from 8:30 to 10. The pantry is operated by three or four volunteers from the parish who welcome clients from Orange City and surrounding areas, Bartle said.

“Many of the folks who come to us are retired and living on very limited incomes,” Bartle said.

All food and drink for the pantry come from donations from parishioners. “They will spot a ‘bogo’ (buy one, get one) at the grocery store and pick it up to make sure that cereal and peanut butter are in good supply for the clients,” Bartle said. “I would estimate that we serve up to 30 families each month.”

St. Jude’s is located at 815 East Graves Ave., Orange City, 32763. For more information, call 386-775-6200.