THE COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY AT ST. MARY'S MOHEGAN LAKE

Many of our day to day activities during those COVID years were curtailed and folks in our community were feeling the pinch of economic insecurity.  It’s tough feeding yourself and your loved ones when businesses closed and layoffs were plenty. Again we are faced with economic stresses, those kitchen table concerns and issues. It is during these times sharing stories of how neighbors are helping neighbors gives us hope for the future.

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Home, no school, no soccer practice or games.  So what do you do?  Sit at home and feel sorry about what’s going on or take action.  Emyln Doell decided to take up the ball. She set up a virtual 5k Run for her Shrub Athletic Soccer Team. Entry fees from family and friends were collected and over $700 was donated to the pantry to help feed the families of our community.  Way to go Emyln and Shrub Oak Athletic!!!

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Every year in the spring Lakeland West Girl Scouts hold a food drive to benefit the pantry.  Over the weekend the troops, leaders and parents stand outside local supermarkets and request donations for the pantry.  Who can’t resist a friendly smile and a simple ask to help a neighbor. The drives are always so successful and always help restock the pantry shelves after the winter and holiday giving.  During COVID to our surprise, Lakeland West Girl Scouts reached out and planned a drive in the year of uncertainty and challenge.  No longer did the scouts stand at the doors of supermarkets, but for this unusual time they were at the door of seven homes that accepted donations from neighbors, family and friends. The scout leaders and parents came with several carloads of donated goods from their earnest and honest collection.   “A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency." (Girl Scout Manual 1947). That certainly holds true for our Lakeland Girl Scouts West.

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Last Saturday morning, computer in hand, I arrived at the pantry to begin distribution.  Standing at the table was a young man of seven accompanied by his parents.  In the young man's hands was a coffee container.  John, one of the pantry's core volunteers, introduced the family.  They had been former neighbors of John's.  Well to my surprise, Craig was here to donate money to the pantry.  Craig had helped a friend collect money in the neighborhood for his local football league.  Craig had learned at his religious instructions class how important it was to help those in need where ever you may find them.  Craig, on his own, put two and two together and decided to collect funds for the "poor".  Craig and two friends brought out two orange cones and placed them in their cul-de-sac and began stopping cars, asking for contributions.  Craig's mom looked out the window and saw the boys, wondering what were they doing?  She went out and discovered that in their cupped hands they had already collected change.  Craig's mom was amazed.  She supported their efforts, brought them inside to make a poster and gathered a collection can.  She then accompanied them outside and stayed with them as they continued to complete the task they had set before them.  Craig and friends collected $70.  Now where to donate?  Craig’s mom recognized John in a picture from the pantry website.  Here's the place.  Giving help to those in our community.  So that is how I got to meet this amazing young man last Saturday morning.

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Youths Helping Out

Our young friends Trevor (13) and Travis (12) created a different kind of advent calendar, one that had them add a donation of food to a box for each day of advent. Advent this year was 26 days. Trevor and his brother hand delivered the boxes of food to pantry.  This was Trevor’s creative way of meeting community service requirements for his upcoming Confirmation. The family so enjoyed the experience that they hope to make it a family tradition.  We are so grateful and we have so much hope for the future because of kids like Trevor and Travis. Thank you boys!

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The volunteers and the people we serve are so grateful to all those who have stepped up so that together we can.