Thank you to all our Auburn-area helpers.
In this historical town, volunteering is an act of fellowship and faith. I have to thank the following people who make sure my pantry stays open all year-round:
• David Wilcox, Lake Life editor of The Citizen, who makes this dialogue with the community possible, and his unique creation of the list of pantries and soup kitchens that helps so many people. Thank you, David.
• My RSVP volunteers, Calvary Food Pantry special volunteers and pantry staff.
• The Rescue Produce Program from The Food Bank of CNY.
• Churches who donate throughout the year: Auburn Alliance Church, Auburn United Methodist Church, Auburn Church of the Nazarene, Auburn Unitarian Universalist Society, Fleming Federated Church, Calvary Chapel, First Presbyterian Church, Half Acre Union Church, Lakes Church, Sacred Heart Church, St. Alphonsus Church, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Hyacinth churches, The Episcopal Church of SS. Peter & John, St. Nicholas Church, St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, St. Mary’s Church, SS. Mary and Martha Parish and Westminster Presbyterian Church.
• Turkey baskets were given out at Thanksgiving from the Auburn community, Auburn United Methodist Church, St. Luke's United Church of Christ and, of course, First Presbyterian Church: Campaign for turkey vouchers from Westminster Presbyterian Church.
• But I would be remiss without telling the community of the extraordinary efforts this year by individuals, churches and business who give to the hungry people in our community by helping provide the 95,220 meals a year the pantry disperses to approximately 5,225 individuals and 1,923 households and to over 1,800 children and 210 seniors. Here is my yearly list of thanks for the pantry's year-round supporters:
- Individuals, over 300, who wish to remain anonymous. Thank you.
- Assemblyman Gary Finch’s office
- Active Solutions Physical Therapy
- ACF Four Committee
- Aldi’s
- AmeriCu Credit Union
- Arc of Seneca Cayuga
- ARISE
- Auburn Correctional Facility
- Auburn Farmers Market, helping every summer with produce,
- Auburn Grove: knitted goods, food drives
- Auburn High School: food drive
- Auburn Kiwanis
- Auburn leadership
- Auburn insurance professionals
- Auburn Players Community Theatre
- Auburn Public Theater
- Aversa Agency
- Bed, Bath and Beyond: bi-monthly contributions
- Bouley Associates
- BOCES: Terry Cuddy’s design class (2017 film)
- The Boyle Center
- The Boy Scouts: November can drive
- Brew Funeral Home
- Bridge O-Rama
- Builder’s Choice Lumber Co.
- Byrne Dairy
- Cameron's Bakery baked goods
- City of Auburn: CDBG
- Casey Park Elementary School
- Calvary Food Pantry Board of Directors
- Calvary Food Pantry volunteers, who give all year
- Cannon Pools
- Cases Unlimited
- Cayuga Centers
- Cayuga Community College criminal justice students and professor Lorraine Miller
- Chapel House
- Chemung Canal Trust Co.
- Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency, NOEP
- CNY TomatoFest
- Church Women United
- Crowley Glass
- The Commons on St. Anthony: Turkeys for Thanksgiving
- Currier Plastics
- D.E. French Foundation
- Dermody, Burke & Brown
- Del Lago Resort & Casino
- Denny’s Restaurant
- Dr. John A. Riccio
- Emerson Foundation
- Excellus Blue Cross
- Fidelis Care
- First Niagara Bank
- First Presbyterian Church Quilt Show
- The Faatz-Crofut Home: Supporting our summer garden,
- First Presbyterian women’s association,
- Genesee Elementary School
- George Winston concert
- Herman Avenue Elementary School
- Howard Hannah Real Estate Services
- Human Services Coalition
- Johnston Paper
- Hospice of the Finger Lakes
- The Knights of Columbus
- King Ferry Food Pantry
- Lakeside Trading
- Lowe’s: Thanksgiving can drive and associate Roxanne P’s mitten and hat drive for the pantry’s children’s Christmas tree
- M&T Bank
- Maggie's (baked goods)
- Medent/Community Computer Services
- New Hope Mills
- NUCOR Steel: Can, personal item drive
- Owasco Elementary School
- PALS
- Panera Bread: Weekly donation of baked goods
- Pizza Hut
- Poor Boys Classic Hot Rods
- Prison City Ramblers
- R.G. Wright Insurance
- Retired Senior Volunteer Program
- The Roundabout Club
- Rotary International
- Save-a Lot’s manager’s specials: Thanksgiving-to-Christmas bags
- Seward Elementary School: Food drive
- S-K Post No. 1324
- St. Luke’s church women’s guild
- The Stanley Metcalf Foundation
- Sun Auto
- Swartz Family Foundation
- Taco Bell
- Tops Friendly Markets
- TOPS 625 Weight Loss
- Tompkins Trust Co.
- The town of Owasco
- TRW
- Ukrainian society of St. Nicholas Church
- Union Springs Shurfine
- United Healthcare
- Universal Forest Products
- U.S. Post Office's yearly food drive
- Unity House of Cayuga County
- Utopia Club
- VFW of Auburn
- VP Supply Corp.
- Walmart
- Wegmans
- Xylem (Goulds Pumps)
My families are still hungry, but I am comforted with the assistance from the Auburn community all year long. I am glad for the help of so many. The pantry still struggles, but perseveres. Thank you to all. I look forward to thanking those individuals and business in person, in the new year.
Please remember to volunteer, donate or reciprocate, in kind, by giving back.
