The Pantry volunteers are still unpacking and sorting the avalanche of support you sent over the weekend. Thank you, thank you; you saved what looked like a lot of empty shelves for the week. Hopefully the Pantry Volunteers can take a breath or two. Sometimes the Pantry needs only three or four items to fill its shelves for two or three days. We did better than that, thanks.

A Feeding America report covering Eastern NY (including the Pantry’s area) put it more starkly: 1 in 6 kids — over 98,000 children — are food insecure, and the reason named repeatedly is federal SNAP cuts, with the Regional Food Bank CEO estimating 44% of people currently facing hunger locally could lose SNAP eligibility. That’s pushing more families toward pantries just as USDA product supplies to food banks are shrinking.

_______

No resting on laurels; here is what Sarah is seeking in support today/Tuesday, September 26.

Arm and Hammer baking soda (12-pack), $18.48.

Rice-A-Roni, Rice Pilaf, Pasta and Rice Mix (Pack of 12 Boxes),$16.56.

Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Tuna, 5-ounce cans, 10-count, $9.95.

______

The Wish List has 15 items; we still need diapers.

________

______

Sarah never asks anybody to do what she does, either. That’s the mark of a good leader.

______

P.S. About one in four military families now face food insecurity. New reports say $5.50-$600 a gallon of oil is coming for the Northeast U.S. This will add more customers to the Pantry.” I’m proud to report that the Army of Good stacked nine urgently needed items over the weekend, including cereal, mixes,  ravioli, tomatoes, diapers, canned corn, spaghetti, etc., and many have been taken off the Wish List. Sarah is finding amazing bargain prices.

Like the Pantry, we are adapting to the new and very difficult reality. We won’t lose hope.

We are on a roll, stacking more than 21 items in recent weeks that the Food Bank and the Pantry could not afford. We are focusing on one or two at a time.

Thank you; you are pouring out generosity like a geyser. Yesterday it was canned Corn; today’s: Baking Soda, Rice Pilaf, Tuna Fish.

You can browse the Wish List any time by clicking on any item above or clicking on the Pantry button at the bottom of all of my blog posts.

______

______

Above, sorting the food from the Food Bank. Maria and Candy.

_____

_________

_______

Thanks for stacking Tomatoes; it’s the first time in months.