April 2025

March came in like a lion and roared much of the month. However, the pantry was able to return outside for most Wednesdays. We’re also seeing an uptick of families needing our help.

The Ides of March, while not as unkind to the pantry as they were to Julius Caesar, did bring some misfortune in the form of federal government budget cuts. This means a loss of funding for Feeding Westchester, a food bank, and our prime source of food.

Now more than ever, the pantry must rely on the generous donations of food and money from individuals, schools, churches, synagogues, businesses and other sources. We hope that all who receive this newsletter will continue to support the pantry and will tell others about us. Please remember that every dollar donated to the pantry goes to food for families. The pantry staff is composed solely of volunteers. Please accept our sincere gratitude to all of you who donate to the pantry.

A special thank you to some of our regular contributors such as Hastings’ Temple Beth Shalom, which provides vegetables weekly, Ardsley United Methodist Church and their monthly donation of food and money, Woodlands Community Temple, Stop & Shop, Mom’s Organic Market, Panera Bread and Ardsley’s The Shop and Sunshine Bagels.

Virginia of The Scarsdale Woman’s Club, a longtime donor, hands Andrew Smith, a longtime volunteer, a bag from a car loaded with food.

Ken of Ardsley United Methodist Church drops off yet another donation.

Craig and a furry friend brought 125 birthday bags to the pantry, a donation from Ardsley High School students. The bags contained everything needed to make and decorate a cake.

Dobbs Ferry Police Chief Talks with Pantry Clients

Manuel “Rick” Guevara, the Dobbs Ferry police chief, spoke with our families at the beginning of March. Chief Guevara’s father is from Ecuador, and the chief spoke in Spanish at times while Viviana, one of our clients, interpreted when necessary. He assured our clients that the Dobbs Ferry Police Department is their friend, and he encouraged them to report any problems to the police, not just those having to do with immigration.

As long as we are on the topic of police, we would like to welcome Officer Lenny Spano to the pantry. Lenny lives in Dobbs Ferry and is on the Yonkers police force.

Pantry’s Kimberly Janeway is Reward Recipient

Congratulations to Kimberly Janeway for being recognized at the 45th annual Volunteer Spirit Awards as the 2025 Education and Literacy Award Recipient for her work with Family Service Society of Yonkers. After retiring from journalism, Kimberly began volunteering at the pantry. Then, as a volunteer she began working with children to improve their reading, and today she works one-on-one with six students. We are all very proud of you, Kimberly.

Thanks to All Pantry Volunteers

For me, it is a privilege and a pleasure to serve with this group of people for whom the “quality of mercy is not strained” and who, in my opinion, never receive the full recognition which they deserve. Therefore, in my own inadequate but sincere way, I would like to recognize these individuals in the following verse.

Ode to the Pantry
Thanks to Donna, our fearless leader
And to Vera, we really need her
Kristy and Roubi hand out bread
Gretchen keeps us out of the red
Enzina and Ellen check people in
The office is managed by Robin
Bijal and Mary give out produce
Jean and Kimberly dole milk and juice
Suzy and Sharon and Mary Anne
They do everything they can
Eileen it seems has always been here
While Nancy is a new volunteer
Alisha distributes fish and meat
Add Marg and this team can’t be beat
Now let us speak of pantry men
Stalwarts such as Bill and Ken
The candy man Mark has many fans
Eric writes messages with his cans
John helps us out, he’s the table guy
While Andrew is our butterfly
Neil makes sure they have protein
Gene is a mean hauling machine
Duke is a prince, working away
Les does much more than he will say
In shine or rain, in snow or hail
Everyone is there without fail
Theirs is a selfless generosity
Asking no thanks or reciprocity

Edward Griggs wrote this month’s newsletter, including the poem above, which references every Wednesday volunteer and Shakespeare. Griggs welcomes our clients each Wednesday morning at the sign-in table.