Some of the best things about the holidays are the wonderful meals and endless variety of tasty treats. However, for people facing food insecurity, winter can be an especially difficult time of year. At Circle of Concern, the colder months are among the food pantry’s busiest times, but it’s dedicated to feeding families in need throughout the entire year. Since 1967, the nonprofit has been dedicated to serving low-income families in our community so they can improve their lives with dignity.

Circle of Concern executive director Cyndi Miller is celebrating her tenth year leading the nonprofit, having served the community through two historic floods and a pandemic. Each month, the food pantry feeds around 700 families in St. Louis County and parts of Jefferson County. It’s an impact Miller is proud to have seen grow during her time with Circle of Concern.

As well as adding to its service footprint, the organization also purchased adjacent lots to expand its headquarters under Miller’s leadership. “We’ve been able to enhance our programs, including adding mental health counseling and building a more robust scholarship initiative,” she says. “We’re more focused on nutritional education, and the addition of an on-site garden has allowed us to produce 1,500 pounds of fresh produce for our clients.” The nonprofit also is discussing potential future expansions, such as the addition of more case workers to assist families and new ways to improve product flow from the warehouse to the food pantry.

Circle of Concern operates on a client-choice model. Families and individuals are able to visit the food pantry and select the items that they want. Miller notes that the system has several benefits. “Our goal is to ensure people have access to a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods to meet their unique needs,” she explains. “Many of the families we serve have dietary restrictions or young children with specific preferences. Allowing people to choose ensures they only get food they can use, cutting down on waste.”

Along with the food pantry, Circle of Concern offers an array of services to help those in need. The nonprofit provides emergency financial assistance for short-term needs, such as paying rent and utilities. It also provides scholarships for high school seniors and adults who are looking to pursue post-secondary education or career training. The organization has programs dedicated to assisting children, including summer camp scholarships, Student Snack gift cards to ensure kids have access to enough food in the summer and the Birthday Club, which provides gifts and party supplies.

In 2024 alone, Circle of Concern has seen a 10% increase in demand for its services, and throughout the year, it will touch the lives of 1,200 unique households. The nonprofit relies on the support of the St. Louis community, through both donations and volunteer opportunities. “Circle of Concern is a place for people to go when they are struggling, and we are able to offer our programs because of our amazing community partners and volunteers,” Miller says. “We are grateful for the support that enables us to do that work that we do.”

Since 1967, Circle of Concern has been dedicated to feeding the hungry and providing assistance to those in need living in west St. Louis County and parts of Jefferson County. Pictured on the cover: Executive director Cyndi Miller. For more information, call 636.861.2623 or visit circleofconcern.org.

Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography

Pictured at the top: Cyndi Miller, Becky Pool, Virginia Pearson, Jenny Lawrence, Beth Niezing, Nancy Bauer, Tim Elwell
Photo: Tim Parker Photography