About the Food Pantry
To the editor:
I thought it would be good to let people on our island know a little something about the Pine Island Food Pantry. We are a non-profit organization, with a board and we abide by rules and regulations set by the USDA and the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
We totally depend on donations from individuals, proceeds from fund raisers run by the many large and small clubs and organizations on the island, the churches, the school Food Drive, local drop-off stations, the Postal Food Drive and Winn-Dixie.
We serve at least 350 people, adults and children, in one month. This year we also ran the Thanksgiving baskets, giving out 122 Winn-Dixie Holiday Bags (purchased by individuals and donations to the pantry). Along with the bags, we gave out gift certificates for meat or turkey. We are doing the same for Christmas Basket Brigade, working with FISH, who is giving toys and gifts to families, we’re giving the Holiday Food Bags and gift certificates which we purchase with our cash donations. Our cash donations are used to buy the food that is not donated like, milk, eggs, cheese, hot dogs, and lunch meat. These items are purchased every Monday and Thursday, an average of 22 or more each. We also purchase from the Dollar Store, condiments, toilet paper, toothpaste, laundry soap, dish soap and bar soap. We also purchase from the Harry Chapin Food Bank items such as coffee, cereal, pastas, and pasta sauce. this is also done every week. The cash donations are well used for buying what we do.
Winn-Dixie generously donates its day old bread and bakery items.
We have over 35 wonderful volunteers who give of their time. With the wonderful people of the island and Winn-Dixie, the pantry is able to feed the needy of our island.
Also, we are not part of the Catholic Church, we are only housed there with the generosity of the church and Father Michael Hughes. At one time, each church had its own Food Pantry. It was decided that the Catholic Church had the largest facility to house a general food pantry, thus the reason for our location.
Again, a big thank you to all from the one can of green beans to the $1,000. Every donation that has ever given is appreciated, hopefully the generosity can continue.
As everyone says “Pine Island is the best in every way” and we at the pantry will be the first in line behind that statement.
Ellen Wolf, Inventory Manager
Pine Island Food Pantry