Members of the Salem Community High School Student Council volunteered at the Salem Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry ahead of the start of their annual canned food drive which begins Monday.
President Jordan Kessler was among those assisting those utilizing the food pantry.
“It definitely shows the reason why we do the canned food drive,” Kessler said. “It definitely touches our hearts and our part of the community, as to why we do this. I think it’s really important, and I for one have definitely seen why we need to keep this going.”
The food drive will be especially important to the food pantry this year as shelves are bare as usage of the food pantry has increased from 170 to 524 families since last March when they moved to their new location in the Grace United Methodist Church.
With the current shutoff of LINK benefits because of the shutdown of the federal government, Carol Ann Short who oversees the food pantry expects numbers to go even higher. However, she is happy to note since the emergency appeal went out last week the community has responded.
“We have steadily received Facebook messages and calls and people coming in who are bringing financial donations or donations of food,” Short said. “We have had even our pantry guests saying, ‘Oh, if you don’t have enough food, I would be glad to wait so that people who need it more can get it.’ I have assured them that the donations are coming in and that we can still feed them. It’s heartwarming to hear that our pantry guests are looking out for each other as well.”
Short says nonperishable food items can be dropped off at the Grace United Methodist Church. Those who want to help the Salem High Student Council Canned Food Drive should contact a high school student. Food or cash donations to purchase food can be given to the food drive. If they don’t know a student, you can call the school office.
Recent donations to the food pantry. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
