August 31, 2022

This past Saturday was full of activity as 93 families representing 284 individuals and four new families shopped for food for three and one half days of meals. Part of our produce this week came from the St. Andrew and Rotary Gleaners. Blackberries, potatoes, and tomatoes were among the items delivered for distribution.

Carol and Debbie were among the volunteers who accepted a $2500.00 check from the Fairview Food Lion to help reduce food insecurity in our pantry community. The grant funds will be use to purchase produce and healthy food items for our pantry neighbors. It is grants like Food Lion that help us offer nutritious meal items.

We are blessed again this year to have an intern, Renee Stinson, as part of the Blue Ridge Service Corp Program. After graduating from Hollins University, she served the past two years as an intern in America Needs You in New York and DC Commission on Arts and Humanities in Washington. Her first pantry day was Monday. Renee will engage in all aspects of the operation of the Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry to carry out the mission of providing food with dignity for the Henderson/Buncombe County community. She will support the day-to-day operations, assist the garden manager, support and assist food pantry committees and officers as interests and skills align, and serve on the Executive Committee.

Just a reminder about the Annual Hunger Walk of Henderson County on September 17. If you would like to participate in the Hunger Walk, information is in the sign-in room at the Pantry. We would also enjoy your company on Thursday nights at 7:00 in the garden. This past week volunteers covered the 242 collard plants with netting and harvested almost 100 pounds of cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes. Please begin using Bin #2 for composting. Bin #1 is filled to the brim!

Donations this week were boxes of Spring Mix lettuce grown at Bright Farms in Etowah. MilkCo donated several boxes of milk. Flavor-First donated tomatoes. Ingles donated buns and rolls. Bread and English muffins were donated by a patron. Tractor.Food and Farms delivered celery, bok choy, spinach, micro greens, cherry tomatoes, basil, mint, red potatoes, blue kale, and hot pepper mix. The Lord's Acre, our garden, provided squash, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Shopping locally the Pantry purchased milk, eggs, and onions.

On behalf of the executive committee, thank you to our volunteers and our area churches, civic groups, local merchants, and families for all you do to feed our community helping to reduce food insecurity.