Honors local Kiwanis Club for long-time support
Published Oct 19, 2016 at 12:58 pm (Updated Oct 19, 2016)
Photos
SEC Food Pantry board president Valerie Macchio presents award to Kiwanis Club members, from left, Kevin Duffy, Ken Koneval and Doug Ellsworth. SEC board member and Kiwanis member Frank Cannistra. far right, looks on PHOTOS BY ROSE SGARLATO
Approximately 180 people attended the fifth annual benefit.
Frank Cannistra addrress the attendees
'); //-->
By Rose Sgarlato
SPARTA – The Sparta Ecumenical Council (SEC) food pantry hosted a wine tasting and auction on Oct.6 at Lake Mohawk Country Club. The non-profit organization honored the Sparta Kiwanis for their dedication to the food pantry.
Approximately 180 people attended the fifth annual benefit, and the evening was made possible due to the generosity of local sponsors and donors.
According to SEC Food Pantry board president Valerie Macchio, the pantry has been providing food assistance to people in need in Sussex County for 22 years. Located at the First Presbyterian Church of Sparta on Main Street, the pantry is open to the public on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and accepts donations all year.
“We focus on giving the clients hope, faith, a belief in a better tomorrow and hopefully we do it with kindness, respect dignity compassion and comfort all words that we exercise daily,” said Macchio.
Sparta Kiwanis was the special honoree of the evening because of their support since 2003.
"Over the years, Sparta Kiwanis holds monthly food and donation collections along with sponsorship for the fundraising dinner from 2012 through 2014 and annual pickup and transport of the many turkeys, chickens, and hams given out during the Christmas holiday season,” said Frank Cannistra, member of Kiwanis and board member of SEC Food Pantry.
Cannistra added that Sparta Kiwanis has collected and contributed approximately $76,000 to the volunteer-driven food pantry.
“We have been able to accomplish this with the help of volunteers that give their time. Donna Iozzino, pantry administrator, runs the day- to -day operations of the pantry while Deb Harkness, our warehouse manager, keeps the shelves stocked and ready for distribution. Our volunteers greet clients with a smile and offer them food to bring home,” said Macchio.
The fundraiser netted approximately $12,000 and proceeds will go towards preparing over 800 holiday meal baskets including a turkey, chicken or ham.
Macchio encourages people to give and suggests that the holiday hams and turkeys that supermarkets give out as a gift this time of year be given to the food pantry if people are not using them.
For more information on donating or SEC Food Pantry hours, visit: www.fpcsparta.org/ or call 973-729-6197.
Sign up to get our newsletter emailed to you every week!
- Enter your email address in the box below.
- Select the newsletters you would like to subscribe to.
- Click the 'SUBSCRIBE' button.
