January 11, 2023

Happy New Year! Welcome 2023! Our first food distribution for the new year! The Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry was filled with enthusiastic volunteers and 121 "neighbors" ready to shop for three and one half days of groceries or eleven meals. The neighbors represented 432 individuals and we welcomed nine new families.

Reflecting on the past year, we have begun a conversation how we might include more volunteers who are unable to volunteer during the weekly daytime opportunities. One suggestion that has been shared with us is working in the garden on a Saturday morning. Let us know if that might work for you by emailing Doug Kearney at wdkearney@gmail.com.

This week City Bakery donated bread. Other donated items were from Bright Farms-lettuce, Bimbos-bread, Wal-Mart-misc items, Flavor-First-tomatoes and peppers, and MilCo-milk. The Humane society donated dog and cat food and Project Dignity contributed feminine products. Friday, our volunteers stocked the shelves with purchased items from MANNA, Sav-Mor (canned goods, milk, and eggs). We purchased potatoes, onions, zucchini, and squash from JandJ Tomato Co.

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.

Kathy Noyes