We hope everyone had a fulfilling Thanksgiving. The community was extra generous to the Pantry this past holiday week. Food drives filled the shelves and filled our tables with plenty for our clients’ feasts. They brought home fresh vegetables, gravy, stuffing, and even pies supplied by local Girl Scouts and other individuals.
Donations came in from many, many places. A huge thank you goes to Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh who held a food drive as part of their Dwiali celebration. They gathered 6,000 pounds of food and gave 1,500 pounds of it to us! Thank you to Legislator MaryJane Shimsky for making the connection.
Stop ‘n Shop and Feeding Westchester delivered their annual Fill-A-Bus food drive. Our neighbors at Cabrini, Masters School, and Barre3 in Dobbs Ferry brought in donations. The United Methodist Church of Ardsley and the Boy Scouts filled many wagons with contributions. Even more donations came from Christian Preschool, Bryn Mawr Park Presbyterian Church in Yonkers, and Linda Jo Platt.
Our shelves were overflowing with donations. To everyone who contributed, a heartfelt thank you!
This week we were back to the regular routine. We helped 95 families by providing nutritious food starting with breakfast right through to a midnight snack. We are grateful to include delicious donations from The Shop, Panera Bread, Mom’s Organic Market, and New York Bagel Authority.
When you read the numbers in this newsletter, it’s the numbers of families that were helped. Some are families of one person while some have eight members. Each person that comes to the pantry is greeted with a smile and cared for as an individual. Gluten-free, or low-sodium, we got you covered. Every pantry volunteer takes an extra moment for the children that come with their parents. Some kids are helpers, pulling wagons, and making choices. While younger ones ride in the wagons tucked next to a bag of produce and diapers. Kids get big hellos usually along with a little snack so they know that the pantry is a friendly, fun place to come. We’re happy to see them.
And going food shopping with kids is a great time to teach them about helping others. My kids like to pick out one thing for you and take a second one to give. Usually it’s their favorite cereal or after school snack. Then they add it to the donation box after we check out. It makes giving simple and part of the routine. You’re never too young to learn to help.
This week’s newsletter was written by volunteer Sharon Bilman, who usually writes for kids under 12 years-old.
Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry 