Incoming food donations over the past week were the most we have seen since last November! Many many thanks to all who contributed! Thanks to you, our reserves are almost enough for next week.
We are short only of the following to cover next week: (1) canned beans. Additional shortage for the 19 September distribution: (2) pasta sauce, (3) canned fruit, (4) dry, unsweetened cereal, (5) pasta, and (6) dry rice/beans. In addition, we need: diapers sizes newborn, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, baby wipes, and Pediasure, as well as Ensure and adult unisex pullups size large. (Particular thanks to those who have located and donated formula – for now we continue to have enough for all those needing it – after six months of severe shortages!)
Paper grocery bags (Trader Joe or Wegmans size or similar) again are in short supply. Can you help? Plastic newspaper bags and plastic grocery bags are always needed. Plastic 12-egg cartons are very much needed. Other 12 or 6 unit containers are useful as back-ups. (18 and 24-egg containers are too large for our distribution).
Over the week ending at close of business 5 September, we received approximately 2.83 tons of non-perishable food. Food shortages noted are for the next two weeks, except other items mentioned afterwards which are short now.
Thanks to our donors, at current projected client totals, we now have enough canned vegetables and mac & cheese for four weeks, and canned meat/fish for three weeks. (Thanks to St John Neumann especially for this last!) For the 26 September distribution everything else is short.
We gave out approximately 1.93 tons of non-perishable food, and rather more perishable food (bread and pastries, fresh vegetables and fruit, etc. – primarily donated by local stores) to 198 families on the Labor Day holiday 5 September. As always, special thanks go to all those helping us to keep St. Martin’s Pantry in operation!
