“We treat everyone with dignity and respect.” These were the first instructions I received when I started helping out at the food pantry. And every week I see the impact that dignity and respect has on all the people who come there. A few weeks ago I was cleaning up at the end of a busy Wednesday morning when I noticed a client was crying. I went to check on her and she told me that these are tears of relief. She had spent the morning with her aging parents who are not doing well. On the drive from them to the pantry she was worried that she’d be too late, the pantry would be closed. But when she got here, everyone was so kind to her. They made the extra effort to get her the food she’d need for the week. She could let go of the anxiety and feel cared for. Kindness and generosity, along with dignity and respect for everybody, from everybody, is at the heart of the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry.
This week the pantry was filled with holiday cheer and our tables were overflowing with contributions. As part of New York State’s Restaurant Resiliency Program, Subway in Tuckahoe provided us with 100 boxed lunches with freshly made sandwiches, chips and cookies. Thank you Angelo, Paul and your wonderful crew! Our clients will be receiving these lunches throughout December.
Anne (Sweetie) Souza, from the group Mary’s Yarns, filled a table with beautiful handmade hats, scarves, and other winter-wear. Clients were delighted to choose from all her knitted gifts. Thank you to all the knitters and crafters who gave their handiwork!
Ingri Zuniga from the New York State of Health provided information about free/low-cost insurance for our clients. Thanks for coming, Ingri.
We are always grateful for our weekly contributions from Mom’s Organic Market, The Shop, Panera, and the New York Bagel Authority. Please stop in and support these generous, local businesses.
And many, many donations were delivered. Thank you to the United Methodist Church of Ardsley, and Scarsdale Woman’s Club. We appreciate your thoughtful contributions.
The Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry is run entirely by volunteers. Everything donated from cash to cans is used to help our clients. If you are making end-of-the-year donations, please consider supporting us. If your employer matches donations, we’ll be doubly grateful. Maybe consider starting a recurring monthly donation as a New Year’s resolution!
Wednesday night the Pantry volunteers gathered for a glass of holiday cheer. From all of us to all of you, Happy Holidays!
This week’s newsletter written by Sharon Bilman who makes sure the church is so clean when we leave on Wednesdays, its congregants never knew we were there.
Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry 