May is one of my favorite months. Spring greets us in all its glory. Trees are in full bloom with new leaves and blossoms. Their scent wafts through the neighborhoods, luring us to stay outside just a little longer. Maybe it’s all the fresh air that also brings back my optimism. We can take on anything in the month of May. And the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry volunteers certainly prove that point. Here are some wonderful people making good things happen.
They Deliver for Us
A big thank you to the DF Post Office for their Stamp Out Hunger food drive. The letter carriers spread the word and then picked up donations from doorsteps — talk about going the extra mile. It was one of their most successful drives, overflowing that big orange bin. Their first-class support of the pantry is just another reason they are a valued part of our community.
Field Trip
Pantry leaders Gretchen Skaggs, Donna Assumma and Vera Halpenny, shown above at left, visited the Horseman’s Harvest Neighborhood Pantry, which provides food to Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown residents. Stephanie Fuller, in the photo at right, gave them a tour of the operations. The local pantry organizers shared the ways they distribute food to their communities. Good people coming together to make things better.
Thank you, Ellen Klein
Ellen Klein is one of the original Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry volunteers. On Wednesday mornings, she’s usually on the freebie table distributing many of our donated items. But you may also recognize her from the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society where she was a trustee for nearly 20 years. So when this gorgeous painting of the historical society by Anne Marie Leone was on display in the church, we knew it was a perfect gift for Ellen. Thank you, Ellen, for all the ways you volunteer and enrich our community.
Full carts
Ken Stahn of Ardsley United Methodist sent word that their regular monthly delivery of the collected food for the pantry would be a little light in May, given how busy Rivertown residents are with upcoming graduations and over the Memorial Day weekend. If this is Ken’s idea of “a little light” then the church is not likely to lose its position as the one of the largest, if not the largest, single regular contributor of food and household products to the pantry. Thank you!
Our Generous Neighbors
We are grateful for our neighbors at Zion Episcopal Church who come every Wednesday with generous donations and always ask what we need. Thank you to Temple Beth Shalom for their weekly contribution to our fresh produce table. Our bread table is filled with donations from Panera and Sunshine Bagels. Mom’s Organic Market gives us a table full of delicious, healthy foods. And a big thank you to Stop & Shop for their continuous support.
And thank you to everyone who leaves donations in our bin. We are always delighted when we open the lid to find bags of food, diapers and cleaning supplies left by our generous community. If you are wondering what we need, kid friendly food is always helpful in the summer when school is out, such as cereal, crackers, juice and snack bars.
Sharon Bilman wrote this month’s newsletter, with some help from Duke Coffey. Sharon’s son, Ryan, above, is expertly pointing out the location of the donation bin.
Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry 