Good morning, everybody – On Wednesday morning we served 39 families, consisting of 70 adults, 45 children and 18 seniors. Then in the evening we served another 13 families with 31 adults, 25 children and 2 seniors. This brought us to a total of 52 families, 101 adults, 70 children and 20 seniors. 191 people were served on Wednesday. During the month of April we averaged 38 families per week, and 135 people per week.
I received a surprise phone call from Joy Haber, legislative assistant to MaryJane Shimsky, telling me that the Westchester County Board of Legislators held a fundraising drive a couple of months ago, working towards eradicating hunger in Westchester. MaryJane has a check for us, and she’s bringing it to the pantry this coming Wednesday, May 1. She’ll present us with the check, then the clients and we volunteers will applaud and we’ll take lots of pictures. You’ll see them on the website and on my Facebook page and twitter feed! So glad MaryJane has put us on the Board of Legislators’ map.
I was contacted by the Postal Workers’ Union this past week, letting me know that there will be another annual postal workers’ food drive on Saturday, May 11. The following week we’ll be able to pick up the food people donated. I know they’re doing it in Dobbs Ferry and Ardsley, I’m not sure about Irvington or Greenburgh, but everybody please mark that date on your calendar and, if you get a notice to do so, put out some shelf-stable food for your mail carrier that day. Rest assured it will make its way to the pantry and our clients.
On Sunday, May 5 Dr. Nitin Gupta and the Rotary Club will be doing a diaper drive for the pantry at Stop & Shop in Dobbs Ferry from 1:00 to 5:00. Dr. Gupta has been a huge help to the pantry, and he’s being helped in this by South Church’s Cirstin Conneely. Thanks to both of you and the Rotary Club. If anybody on this list is shopping at Stop & Shop that day, plan to pick up a package or two of diapers to help the mothers at the pantry. One mother just gave birth, and two more mothers will give birth over the summer.
We’re planning for a representative of the Cornell Cooperative Extension to do a half-hour nutrition workshop for our clients some time in May. Cornell offers these workshops for free, and it’s a great way for our clients to learn how to better nourish themselves and their families. This is good timing, because we’ll be starting to pick up fruits and vegetables from the CSA (community supported agriculture) towards the end of May or early June.
Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry 