ARTICLE OPTIONS
CARTHAGE — There is an ever-increasing need for communities to provide for nutrition-challenged families. As it has done for the last four years, the Village Ecumenical Ministries Food Pantry is challenging the public to donate during March and April.
Through April 30, the goal for the 2019 Community Challenge is $25,000 in cash and items.
“That is a jump up, but considering our numbers are significantly increasing we have to be brave and go for it,” said challenge coordinator Jody Mono. “This challenge is more important than ever as we have seen increasing numbers in the past few years and last year we gave enough food for 99,945 meals, and I have no doubt we will surpass that this year. It takes a community, and we thank God for ours every day!”
She encourages individuals, groups, business and organizations to host fundraising activities to benefit the food pantry. Mrs. Mono has also suggested donations be made in memory or in honor of someone.
Food pantry volunteers will hold a bake sale Thursday, April 4, at Carthage Savings and Loan, 313 State St.
“We are also looking for a Saturday bake sale — location to be determined — as well as a chicken barbecue,” said Mrs. Mono.
A door-to-door collection — Orange Bags of Hope — will distribute the orange Kinney Drugs bags on Saturday, March 30, with pick-up April 6.
Volunteers are needed each day and are asked to meet at the food pantry, 425 S. Washington St., at 9 a.m. to help.
Those wishing to take up the challenge can drop off donations of food, personal care items or money at the food pantry during its operational hours, or, if a large amount of food items is involved, pick-up can be arranged. Checks with the notation “Community Challenge” can be mailed to Village Ecumenical Ministries.
Currently, the food pantry is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. However, to deal with the abundance of families using the services of the food pantry, Mrs. Mono said, it will be increasing the hours of operation.
Eligible families in the area covered by the Carthage Central School District can receive amounts of food based on family size.
For more information on the pantry or to inquire about conducting a fundraiser or making a donation, call 315-493-1341 during hours of operation or visit the website at www.carthagefoodpantry.org or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vemcarthagefoodpantry.
