Pantry of Angels Moves to Route 15
A faith-based initiative—otherwise known as the Pantry of Angels moved today from Presho Church to its new headquarters at the old Brownie’s Mini Mart location on Route 15 in Lindley. Currently, the upstairs store front is occupied by Season’s Discount Store. The Pantry of Angels will occupy the downstairs space where there’s lots of room to store the cache of food for local Lindley residents who need a helping hand.
And the need is great. Kelly Schoener, Director, said the Pantry currently serves 168 clients in town. The Pantry started with four clients and quickly grew to meet a demand that many of us here in town didn’t know existed. In some respects, this should be a wake up call for our charitable side and give what we can to help the Pantry of Angels stay in the business of feeding the truly hungry. I am reminded of what my Mother used to say when I didn’t finish the food on my plate—to count my blessings because there were starving kids all over the world who would love to have what was left on my plate.
The Presho United Methodist Church is on a mission to make sure the kids in Lindley have enough food on their plates, and from the looks of it, they’re doing one heck of a job. Since the Pantry started the organizers have stocked the shelves full of food items by holding fundraisers and accepting charitable food and financial donations from people here in town. Kim Snyder, Pantry organizer, also wrote grants that gained the Pantry a refrigerator and a freezer big enough to hold lots of food. Local businesses have pledged money and Kim requested I note the overwhelming support they receive from Wegmans in Corning who continually donate fresh vegetables and bread.
Kim also said the majority of the food comes from the Southern Tier Food Bank where the Pantry purchases food items for 18 cents a pound. Even though the Pantry will accept any donated food items, they prefer cash donations to make food purchases from the Food Bank in Elmira. Kim said the Pantry could acquire more food with dollar donations rather than individuals purchasing food for the Pantry. But I’ll tell you what…when my crop of zucchini comes in next summer, guess where I’m taking it!
The Lindley Community Church also helps with the Pantry of Angels by encouraging their congregation to donate food that they collect at church and pass on to the Pantry. Tracy Overdurf, a Community Church member, helps the Pantry by delivering food to those who are shut in or otherwise can’t pick it up themselves.
To give the Pantry a “leg up” at their new site, Bob Brown, owner of Brownie’s Mini Mart, donated two months free rent. Sue Marsh and Sandy Hall also donated one month’s rent. Kim said they have enough money to cover the rent and electric until July of this year. They’re hoping to receive enough cash donations to carry them through the rest of the year. Something tells me they will. The Pantry of Angels organizers truly understand the power of prayer.
So just who are the Angels? Well I saw a few today working hard on a cause they believe in—in the pouring rain no less. The first Angel was Kelly Schoener who was stationed at the new location on Route 15 organizing the boxes of food that were moved from the Presho Church by Garrison Kollhoff and his son, Gary. Then I went down to the Presho Church and met other Angels working in the rain: Renee Toby, Kim and Butch Snyder, Sue Marsh and Frank Hall. Then Tracy Rumsey appeared to help them move the huge refrigerator onto the “roll-back” donated for the occasion by Friendly Fred Marsh. Tommy Kirk came along and helped a couple of Angels on the road who had trouble getting their first load of food to the new location. There’s always Angels around when you need them most. Ask Renee Toby.
The Pantry of Angels plans on expanding services by referring clients to temporary assistance programs such as food stamps and the WIC program.
Overall, the Pantry of Angels is to be congratulated for its fine effort and it just goes to show you what a few people in a very small town can do. Good Luck at your new location.
Consult the “Pantry of Angels” article I posted a few weeks ago for the times when the Pantry is open and to read the announcements/comments from the Pantry’s organizers.
And the need is great. Kelly Schoener, Director, said the Pantry currently serves 168 clients in town. The Pantry started with four clients and quickly grew to meet a demand that many of us here in town didn’t know existed. In some respects, this should be a wake up call for our charitable side and give what we can to help the Pantry of Angels stay in the business of feeding the truly hungry. I am reminded of what my Mother used to say when I didn’t finish the food on my plate—to count my blessings because there were starving kids all over the world who would love to have what was left on my plate.
The Presho United Methodist Church is on a mission to make sure the kids in Lindley have enough food on their plates, and from the looks of it, they’re doing one heck of a job. Since the Pantry started the organizers have stocked the shelves full of food items by holding fundraisers and accepting charitable food and financial donations from people here in town. Kim Snyder, Pantry organizer, also wrote grants that gained the Pantry a refrigerator and a freezer big enough to hold lots of food. Local businesses have pledged money and Kim requested I note the overwhelming support they receive from Wegmans in Corning who continually donate fresh vegetables and bread.
Kim also said the majority of the food comes from the Southern Tier Food Bank where the Pantry purchases food items for 18 cents a pound. Even though the Pantry will accept any donated food items, they prefer cash donations to make food purchases from the Food Bank in Elmira. Kim said the Pantry could acquire more food with dollar donations rather than individuals purchasing food for the Pantry. But I’ll tell you what…when my crop of zucchini comes in next summer, guess where I’m taking it!
The Lindley Community Church also helps with the Pantry of Angels by encouraging their congregation to donate food that they collect at church and pass on to the Pantry. Tracy Overdurf, a Community Church member, helps the Pantry by delivering food to those who are shut in or otherwise can’t pick it up themselves.
To give the Pantry a “leg up” at their new site, Bob Brown, owner of Brownie’s Mini Mart, donated two months free rent. Sue Marsh and Sandy Hall also donated one month’s rent. Kim said they have enough money to cover the rent and electric until July of this year. They’re hoping to receive enough cash donations to carry them through the rest of the year. Something tells me they will. The Pantry of Angels organizers truly understand the power of prayer.
So just who are the Angels? Well I saw a few today working hard on a cause they believe in—in the pouring rain no less. The first Angel was Kelly Schoener who was stationed at the new location on Route 15 organizing the boxes of food that were moved from the Presho Church by Garrison Kollhoff and his son, Gary. Then I went down to the Presho Church and met other Angels working in the rain: Renee Toby, Kim and Butch Snyder, Sue Marsh and Frank Hall. Then Tracy Rumsey appeared to help them move the huge refrigerator onto the “roll-back” donated for the occasion by Friendly Fred Marsh. Tommy Kirk came along and helped a couple of Angels on the road who had trouble getting their first load of food to the new location. There’s always Angels around when you need them most. Ask Renee Toby.
The Pantry of Angels plans on expanding services by referring clients to temporary assistance programs such as food stamps and the WIC program.
Overall, the Pantry of Angels is to be congratulated for its fine effort and it just goes to show you what a few people in a very small town can do. Good Luck at your new location.
Consult the “Pantry of Angels” article I posted a few weeks ago for the times when the Pantry is open and to read the announcements/comments from the Pantry’s organizers.
posted by sallyann | 4:49 PM
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