Old Mother Hubbard would feel at home these days at the Bellevue Food Pantry.
Ron Begg, pantry director, said many of his shelves are bare and others poorly stocked as the winter season draws near.
Some relief was provided recently when members of the Bryan High School National Honor Society dropped off 1,500 pounds of canned food, and Twin Ridge and Bellevue elementary schools dropped off another 50 boxes. A $1,000 check from the Family Fare supermarket also helped.
But bare shelves abound at the pantry, and Begg said donations of canned or boxed foods, cash and other useful items are needed as the holiday season approaches.
The list of canned or boxed items the pantry needs is long, he said. It includes dry potatoes, stuffing, cake mixes, soups, jelly, pasta, meats, tuna, tomatoes, miscellaneous beans like gonzaga and kidney beans, corn, miscellaneous vegetables, toilet paper, fruit, rice, mac and cheese, Hamburger Helper and toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Paper grocery bags are also needed, he said, so that the food can be delivered to the pantry’s distribution point in Washington Park.
“I hate to spend money for paper bags as opposed to food,” Beggs said.
Beggs said persons willing to donate food may drop items off at the pantry behind Immanuel Lutheran Church, 104 Galvin Road N., from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays.
If those hours are inconvenient, the donors can make an appointment, he said, by calling 402-291-5030.
Checks should be made out to the Bellevue Food Pantry and mailed to: The Bellevue Food Pantry, 1908 Hancock St., Bellevue, NE 68005.
