LANCASTER, Ky. — Residents in Lancaster are coming together to replace food items for the Garrard County Food Pantry after a fire Sunday morning.

What You Need To Know

  • The Garrard County Food Pantry was set on fire Sunday

  • The pantry lost 200 turkey and is now working to replace items lost

  • Police arrested a suspect after seeing her on surveillance video 

  • Debra Smalling is charged with arson and criminal mischief

The director of the program, Gregory Cash says it still feels unreal. 

“It’s not really hitting me. Honestly, I went home last night and walked in the door and hit the floor. It all kind of hit me one time. This is my entire life here in this building. We're here six days a week, volunteers, and they give up all their time. We've been in this community for so many years,’ Cash said.

The pantry shared more pictures of the destruction on its Facebook page saying the facility was "100% loss."

Cash has supplied food for thousands of families over the years. Including holiday meals, like Thanksgiving.

“Well we just had put 200 turkeys in the freezer last year so we were able to get somewhere 85 turkeys is what we handed out and we had about 200. We just booked the freezer and probably we're not going to be able to save them,” Cash said.

With the increase in prices for turkeys and shortages, Cash hopes to collect donations and help from God’s Pantry over the next week. 

“One way or another we will deliver food even if it's in the back of a truck or whatever but we'll get it done,” Cash said.

Donna Hopkins, is one of the seniors in Lancaster who receives meals from the food pantry, and says she is heartbroken to hear the news.

“And we're devastated, we just, you know, we just couldn't believe it. But we'll all pull together and get through it,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins says with a small community it’s hard to believe situations like this could happen.

“I do hope people from out of the community will help them get back running, because it’s needed. Not only for senior citizens but by everyone,” Hopkins said.

Cash says the pantry is collecting donations to make up for the two hundred meals lost. and hopes to find a way to continue giving back to the community during this tough time.

The Lancaster Police Department says using cameras within the area they were able to arrest Debra Smalling. Smalling is charged with second-degree arson, and first-degree criminal mischief.