2nd Tea Review Carol's Corner From The President


PANTRY NEWS
BY CAROL ATHERTON - SEPTEMBER, 2011


The pantry continues to serve between 1,300 and 1,400 people each month
in the pantry.  The Pantry committee continues to meet to enhance the Pantry
experience.  The pantry closed for one day in August due to a critically low
inventory.  The pantry opened again in the same week and the shelves are
once again beginning to fill.

Plans are moving forward with new stainless steel tables and other ways to
keep the pantry sanitary and cleaner.  Jerry Noble and his wife cleaned the freezers
and fridges.  The Pantry Committee is completing a Standard Operations and
Procedures Manual to be kept in the pantry for volunteers and for use with
new volunteers



PANTRY NEWS AND VIEWS
 BY CAROL ATHERTON, PANTRY COORDINATOR -Sept. newsletter


"FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME FOOD."
We are all familiar with this quote from Jesus in Matthew 25:35. He recognized, as do we as people
of faith, that to feed the poor is blessed. It is one of the missions of the Catholic Church to look out
for the least of those among us.

Like many groups in the area, our Food Pantry has had some difficulties this summer. Food
shortages are affecting everyone, as was reported in the Aug 2 issue of the World Herald. Many
pantries, as well as ours, chose to reduce our days of distribution temporarily, rather than risk
"short changing" our patrons. The Food Bank where we obtain most of our food products has been
unusually low on many items because of a decrease in donations and an increase in re­quests.
This is due to the flood emergencies, children out of school (more meals to fix at home) and the
economy. We are facing a challenging times for non-profits as funding sources dry up and
government programs are slashed.

What you can do to help? Recently, we held a very successful fund raiser which netted a sizable
amount of money for our Pantry. This money will be used for facility enhancement as well as the
purchase of food, but more than that, we hope it will serve as "bread on the water" for supporters
who wish to join us in doing more for the poor.

Thank God for some of the local parishes who have regularly scheduled food drives! We would
love to see more regular food drives from other parishes as well. In addition, as an individual you
could (a) donate money to the Society for the use by the pantry to buy in bulk from local vendors
when the Food Bank is low; and (b) think about purchasing an extra jar of peanut butter, can of fruit
or tuna, or mac and cheese when you buy your groceries. Put it aside until you have a bag full and
bring it to the Pantry. Small gestures turn into big help when it comes to feeding the poor!

If you could see the faces of our friends who come to the Pantry for food, the hope and the
gratitude, you would understand when it is said "You can see the face of Christ in the poor."
Please consider helping in any way you can. Believe me you will feel blessed for it. Watch our next
Newsletter to see how you can be a Pantry Partner! Thanks for all the volunteers who help. We
could not have a Pantry without you! After all, our Pantry is run entirely by volunteers!



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