As a kid, I remember going to South Church and hearing what Rev. Joe Gilmore would say when he passed out the collection baskets. “Give what you can, take what you need”.
Back then the food pantry was just that: a pantry. That’s all that was needed. Coming back to it as a volunteer at the beginning of this year I was in awe to find the pews filled with food, from the first to the last. Awe changed to dismay when I realized what that really meant. If there is this extraordinary effort to come together, that means there is a huge number of people who need the help.
Since then, the Food Pantry has moved out of the Sanctuary — but the amount of space used and the amount of food needed has only increased. This week we served 121 families. 7 new families. 445 total people.
Inside, I see volunteers work hard to put together food for big families, break down boxes and organize diapers into sizes. Outside, those who need it get their food, flanked by young people rolling carts, station by station. They greet volunteers with tender smiles and fantastic senses of humor. Everybody is playing their part for a larger cause.
With everyone going away for the summer and with the pandemic numbers going down, there is a drop in donations. With school out, kids are missing two out of three guaranteed meals for the day.
Which means donations are more important than ever.
Most needed items this week: peanut butter (in plastic jars), pasta sauce (in plastic jars or cans), tuna, diapers size 4, 5, 6, and baby wipes.
Here’s one more Joe Gilmore quote – on his work with Midnight Run: “It’s not charity. It’s justice.”
This week’s newsletter was written by 18-year-old Lucas Nammour, DFHS class of ’20.
Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry 