On Nov. 5, the scouts will start the first phase of their annual Scouting For Food program. They will be putting empty bags on the front-door handles of 4,000 to 5,000 area homes.
One week later, on Nov. 12, they will return bright and early to those same homes to pick up the bags, now hopefully filled with plenty of non-perishable food items that will help give others a pleasant holiday meal.
It’s a program that has been going on for so long, many can’t remember when it started.
“I’ve been volunteering here 32 years,” food pantry assistant director Marion Lundgren said. “It wasn’t here when I started but it’s been going on a long time, I know that.”
Caroline Komoroske, a volunteer with the food pantry and a central figure at the pantry on pick-up day, said the event has been held for 26 consecutive years.
“Food is a basic need for people,” she said.
Gary Barrow, the committee chairman for Boy Scout Troop 42, said the scouts will cover a wide area that mainly includes parts of Round Lake, Ballston Lake, southern Malta, Jonesville and the Ushers Road subdivisions.
It’s an area that’s all within the Shen School District,” Barrow said. “It’s mostly the Exit 10 and 11 areas and areas west of the Northway.”
Barrow understands that the Nov. 5 bag drop off is generally not a problem. People wake up on a Saturday morning and find a plastic bag on their door with an information sheet. It’s the pick-up that has the potential for problems. Continued...
In case a homeowner misses the pick-up and still wants to donate, the drop-off site is the Jonesville Methodist Church, 963 Main Street, the home of the Shenendehowa Helping Hands Food Pantry.
“Right now we need holiday food items,” Lundgren said, “instant potatoes, gravy, stuffing, baking supplies, pie crusts, condiments, canned sweet potatoes, cranberry sauces, cake mixes, canned pumpkin or any type of pie fillings, things like that. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and behind that is Christmas.”
Lundgren, who is one of five assistant directors at the food pantry, said it helps about 250 families each month.
“We serve over 600 individuals a month, some are singles others have kids,” she said. “We’re one of the largest food pantries in Saratoga County.”
For the holiday meal’s main course, the food pantry distributes gift certificates that are either donated or purchased. With those in hand families can get turkey, ham, or whatever they prefer for their holiday dinner.
Other items that are always accepted for donation at the food pantry are rice, pasta, canned tomatoes or tomato products, over the counter medicines, and toiletries like tooth paste.
“This event helps to replenish our pantry and also helps us with our holiday food requests,” Lundgren said.
Barrow said it helps the scouts too.
“It’s rewarding service project for the scouts and the adults both,” he said. “I’m not sure how well we’ll do, but anything we can do we know is appreciated.” Continued...
On Nov. 5, the scouts will start the first phase of their annual Scouting For Food program. They will be putting empty bags on the front-door handles of 4,000 to 5,000 area homes.
One week later, on Nov. 12, they will return bright and early to those same homes to pick up the bags, now hopefully filled with plenty of non-perishable food items that will help give others a pleasant holiday meal.
It’s a program that has been going on for so long, many can’t remember when it started.
“I’ve been volunteering here 32 years,” food pantry assistant director Marion Lundgren said. “It wasn’t here when I started but it’s been going on a long time, I know that.”
Caroline Komoroske, a volunteer with the food pantry and a central figure at the pantry on pick-up day, said the event has been held for 26 consecutive years.
“Food is a basic need for people,” she said.
Gary Barrow, the committee chairman for Boy Scout Troop 42, said the scouts will cover a wide area that mainly includes parts of Round Lake, Ballston Lake, southern Malta, Jonesville and the Ushers Road subdivisions.
It’s an area that’s all within the Shen School District,” Barrow said. “It’s mostly the Exit 10 and 11 areas and areas west of the Northway.”
Barrow understands that the Nov. 5 bag drop off is generally not a problem. People wake up on a Saturday morning and find a plastic bag on their door with an information sheet. It’s the pick-up that has the potential for problems.
“We know we’re out there pretty early for some of the pick-ups on Nov. 12,” he said. “If people can put out whatever they feel like donating on their porch or near their mailbox by 9 a.m. on Nov. 12, we’ll get it.”
In case a homeowner misses the pick-up and still wants to donate, the drop-off site is the Jonesville Methodist Church, 963 Main Street, the home of the Shenendehowa Helping Hands Food Pantry.
“Right now we need holiday food items,” Lundgren said, “instant potatoes, gravy, stuffing, baking supplies, pie crusts, condiments, canned sweet potatoes, cranberry sauces, cake mixes, canned pumpkin or any type of pie fillings, things like that. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and behind that is Christmas.”
Lundgren, who is one of five assistant directors at the food pantry, said it helps about 250 families each month.
“We serve over 600 individuals a month, some are singles others have kids,” she said. “We’re one of the largest food pantries in Saratoga County.”
For the holiday meal’s main course, the food pantry distributes gift certificates that are either donated or purchased. With those in hand families can get turkey, ham, or whatever they prefer for their holiday dinner.
Other items that are always accepted for donation at the food pantry are rice, pasta, canned tomatoes or tomato products, over the counter medicines, and toiletries like tooth paste.
“This event helps to replenish our pantry and also helps us with our holiday food requests,” Lundgren said.
Barrow said it helps the scouts too.
“It’s rewarding service project for the scouts and the adults both,” he said. “I’m not sure how well we’ll do, but anything we can do we know is appreciated.”
Scouts taking part include members of troop 42 and pack 44 from Corpus Christi Church, troop 6 and pack 42 from Jonesville Methodist Church, troop 246 from Clifton Park Elks, and pack 43 from St. George’s Episcopal Church. Boy Scout Troop 45 and Cub Scout Pack 45 from Shenendehowa United Methodist Church made bag drop-offs and pick-ups several weeks ago due to a long standing scout event scheduling conflict.
