Sharing Giving and Caring
The Newsletter of the Sandwich Food Pantry
Volume 8 2008 April 2008
PO Box 1824, Sandwich, MA 02563 Tel: 508 888-3816, Fax: 508 888-7866 email: sfpantry@cape.com
New website: www.SandwichFoodPantry.org
Spring 2008

From the Director’s Desk
As the Director of the Sandwich Food Pantry, every year I see more people who need a helping hand to make ends meet. After monthly expenses, utilities, and medicine, there just isn’t enough left to put food on the table.
The belief that everyone who comes to a food pantry is on welfare is a misconception. We see people from all walks of life – hard-working people who have to deal with a financial crisis, the elderly who must depend solely on their Social Security checks and must turn to the food pantry because it is the only place left to seek help, and many others in temporary hardships.
Every time I see a client come in, I say, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” While many people in our area may be fortunate enough to have never had to ask for help to feed their family, none of us knows what obstacle may be lurking around the next corner.
A car needs repair, a furnace breaks down, and an illness occurs: any one of these crises can devastate a family. It happens to someone every day. This year’s fuel costs, both for heating our homes and for our automobiles, has been devastating and many people have lost jobs and homes in the current real estate crisis.
This has been a particularly difficult year. I have always believed that that’s why there’s more than one of us. We are here to help one another through the tough times. How fortunate it is to be able to be the helpers!
We send out a heartfelt thank you to all of our donors who help us to carry out our mission to feed and care for those who are less fortunate than we and cannot always “make it through the long and lonely night.”
Thanks and Praise
We have been very busy since our last newsletter in October. We have so many people to thank. A big THANK YOU to Rich Havens and crew for the Annual “We Gather Together” Thanksgiving Run. As usual, he does a wonderful job and is a great supporter of the Pantry. Thank you, too, to all the energetic Runners and Walkers who participated and donated bags of groceries. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
THANK YOU to all of you who contributed to our “Share the Harvest” campaign. Your donations make it possible for us to serve our Clients.
THANK YOU to so many of you who made donations in memory or in honor of loved ones. We have been especially blessed to receive your thoughtful support.
To all of you, your assistance is greatly appreciated!!
Our New Website and Newsletter
In January, one of our talented volunteers, Matt Desmarais, generously designed a web site for us free of charge, while donating the web expenses. Be sure to look for our newsletter and contact information at www.SandwichFoodPantry.org. You’re awesome, Matt!
Due to the rising cost of postage, we have decided to reduce our newsletter mailing to twice a year. Newsletters will be mailed out in October and April. Not to worry, however; we will still list all our donors, and keep you updated on all the events each month. We thank each and every one of you for your patronage to the Pantry and will continue to reach out to you as you have reached out to us. If you have any ideas for our newsletter, please feel free to let us know. Thank you.



Quarterly Activities Report
 Nov.’07/ Dec.’07/ Jan.’08
Another successful Thanksgiving with 124 families receiving complete dinners. The Thanksgiving Run, directed by Rich Havens, brought in over 1900 bags of groceries. Christmas Dinners were given out in December with 91 families receiving dinners. Thirty-five families (clients of the Pantry) received toys for Christmas through the St. Vincent de Paul “Toys for Christmas Program.”
 Feb.’08/ Mar.’08/ Apr.’08
Anthony’s Pastries helped us provide a cheery Easter with a generous donation of beautiful miniature Easter cakes. Many thanks to Anthony’s Pastries at 7 Jan Sebastian Drive, Industrial Park, Sandwich.
 May’08/ June ’08/ July ’08
The Annual Post Office drive to help the local Food Pantries will take place in May. Please check your local paper and mail for specific dates.

 Aug. ‘08/ Sept. ‘08/ Oct. ‘08
Our Annual “Share the Harvest 2008” appeal will take place in September.
In October, we will celebrate our 25th Anniversary. The 25th Anniversary of the Sandwich Food Pantry is December 7th. However, since November and December are our busiest months, we will celebrate it in October with an Open House.
If you know of any events, please be sure to let us know, and we can list them here and/or on our new website.
PR Help Needed for Community Thanksgiving Dinner
The Community Thanksgiving Dinner has benefitted the community for many years due to the efforts of Janet Richards and her family. Janet is seeking PR (Public Relations) help for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. If you can help or know someone who can, please contact Janet Richards at 508-477-0859. This is a great way to donate your time and talent.



Thank you to our newsletter sponsors:

Spinal Technology, Inc.
191 Mid Tech Drive
Yarmouth, MA 02673
Phone: (508) 775-0990
(800) 253-7868
Leaders in Custom Spinal Orthotics
www.spinaltech.com
Tree Frog
Tree Service
28 Route 6A
PO Box 184
Sandwich, MA 02563
Phone: (508) 888-5588
Veteran owned and operated

Sandwich Food Pantry Newsletter Fall 2007

Fall 2007

From the Board

Gigi, our fearless Leader and Director of the Food Pantry has graciously allowed me to write this edition’s column of “the Directors Desk”. I am Arleen Mark, President of the Board of Directors for the Sandwich Food Pantry. Doesn’t that sound important? Well, in all honesty, it is no more important than any other position on the Board or all of our wonderful volunteers, for that matter. We have a great Board of Directors who each week, and then some, volunteer their time, effort and talent to running this successful Pantry. I have been with the Food Pantry for three (+) years now and am still amazed at the daily workings. The old saying “it takes a village to raise a child”, well it does take a village to run the Pantry. Part of that “village” is our community. Your donations of both food and money is what keeps us in business and able to serve more and more clients each year. It is sad to say, but our numbers keep growing each year. We all know that with the rising cost of oil, gas, electricity, etc., it is hard for everyone to give more and more. So many organizations are asking you for help. Let me tell you why the Sandwich Food Pantry is a great choice. It is with overwhelming pride that I tell you 100% of all our donations are used to run the Pantry. Your monetary donations are used to buy food that we cannot purchase from the Boston Food Bank. Your donations of non-perishable food items go directly to our clients. There is no waste. Our penny-pinching Treasurer, Laurie Ray, sees to that.

I ask all of you to continue to support the Sandwich Food Pantry. This is the time of year when we ask for specific donations for our Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. This newsletter contains two lists; one for our Holiday meals and one for our regular weekly meals. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the Pantry at 508-888-3816.

We appreciate and thank you for your continued support.

Thanks and Praise

A belated thanks to the Postal Workers of Sandwich, who organized a gigantic food drive for us in May. We were very grateful for all the food donations from the residents of Sandwich and for the efforts of the Postal Workers. Many thanks to Fran Dockham, who along with members of the American Legion, led the unloading and stocking of all the food donations. Thanks, also to Disaster Specialists, who lent us their trucks to transfer all the donations.

Welcome new Board Member

We welcome our newest Board Member, Kathleen Ahearn to our Board of Directors. Kathy has worked at the Pantry now for a couple of years during our Wednesday night opening. Kathy is a great asset to the Board and has jumped right into the position. Welcome!!!

Wish List

We are always in need of the following products as we cannot purchase these from the Boston Food Bank and must purchase these on our own.

Dish Soap,

Bar Soap,

Toilet Paper

Laundry Soap (Liquid, large size preferable)

Cereal (preferably corn flakes, cheerios, etc.)

Jell-O

Canned Fruit

Sharing/Caring/Giving

"The Sandwich Stitchers have come through again. They have managed to produce another blue and white ocean quilt. This time, America's Racing Cup Sailboats are featured. White sails in different styles, on different colored vessels sail through water-colored background blocks. Should be a winner!"

Thanksgiving/Christmas

The Holidays are once again rapidly approaching. We are already busy planning at the Sandwich Food Pantry to ensure that all our Clients receive a Holiday meal. Donations for Thanksgiving can be dropped off at the Pantry from now ^to November 13th from 10:00 - 12:30. On November 13^th, we will remain open until 2:00 to receive donations. We are expecting to pack approximately 130 Thanksgiving Baskets this year. Thanksgiving Baskets will be handed out on November 14^th. Donations may also be dropped off at both the Stop and Shop stores in Sandwich. Turkeys will be our most needed item. All weights will be accepted as we have both large and small families in need. Other items in need are Stuffing Mix, Boxed Mashed Potatoes, Cake mix, Quick Bread (especially Pumpkin and Cranberry) and Pie Crust mixes.

Christmas donations may be made beginning on November 28^th through December 12^th. Christmas items in need are 2 and 3 pound hams, canned yams, canned string beans, cake mixes, and quick bread mixes.

Suggested Donations

Cereal

Dry Milk

Jelly

Peanut Butter

Spaghetti

Spaghetti Sauce

Macaroni & Cheese

Rice

Tuna

Jell-O

Soup

Canned Vegetables

Juice

Bar Soap

Laundry Detergent

Dish Detergent

Toilet Paper