Church looks to fill local food bank shelves

Date: 12/7/2010

Dec. 6, 2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW -- The United Methodist Church is once again helping out this holiday season with its Stuff the Truck campaign for local food banks.

Working to benefit the Open Pantry in Springfield and the food pantry located at the Pleasantview Senior Center in East Longmeadow, the church intends to spend Dec. 9 through 18 gathering foodstuffs to help those in need this holiday season.

Carolyn Brennan, executive director of the East Longmeadow Council on Aging, which supports the food pantry at the Pleasantview Senior Center, was very pleased to learn of the additional help this holiday season.

"I think it's nice that we're getting the word out more," Brennan said. "A lot of times you'll see food drives in town and the food goes somewhere outside this community. It's nice to know that we are reaching people who want to help inside the community."

Pointing out that the Senior Center's food bank is open to the public and it services more families than seniors on a weekly basis, Brennan said that, not surprisingly, demand reaches its peak in the colder winter months.

"It always increases this time of year, but I was surprised at the demand during the warmer months this year," Brennan said. "On a daily basis, we see two to three families on Monday through Friday."

Those who take advantage of the Pleasantview pantry may only do so twice a week and must be able to show there is a need.

Donations to the Stuff the Truck campaign can be made at the United Methodist Church at 215 Somers Road from 3 to 7 p.m. or by appointment. The items that are most often requested include tuna fish, peanut butter, cereal and pasta.

According to Brennan, the most important foods are the ones that can be used to make meals that provide some nutritional value. Protein was specifically important.

In addition to the regular process of simply accepting food donations, United Methodist is accommodating those who wish to help, but can't find time for extra shopping this holiday season.

If members of the public prefer to donate money instead, United Methodist is offering an option to do so and the church will pick up the items. According to a representative at the church, monetary donations have already begun rolling in.

Fliers that were included in the church's newsletter offer a cut-out section with a list of items and the cost associated with those items.

The list includes:

• A case of tuna for $22;

• A case of Dinty Moore beef stew for $16;

• A case of peanut butter and jelly for $25;

• A case of mashed potatoes and stuffing for $18;

• A case of spaghetti and sauce for $22: and

• A case of pancake mix and syrup for $24.

In order to donate money, interested parties must fill out the form to indicate how many cases of the specific items they wish to donate.

Copies of these forms can be picked up at the church's office Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or can be downloaded from the church's Web site at www.elumc.org







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