“It’s a good community,” Sally Mattausch said, “and people do support you when they know there’s a need. Our need is so local and so hidden.”
Mrs. Mattausch and Margaret Vatter chaired a Backpacks for Food (BFF) meeting on Oct. 19. They told the volunteers that the pantry is once again full. As for the need, more than 15 percent of the student population has qualified for free or reduced price lunches. But not many families have asked for weekend meals.
At present, BFF is filling 47 backpacks (or string bags) with food every week. Last year, the number of meal recipients got up to 50. The volunteers are hoping to extend their outreach — perhaps by providing meals for younger siblings who are not yet in school.
The full pantry is a positive sign. It confirms the observation that “people do support you when they know there’s a need.” It all shows that the public hasn’t forgotten about BFF.
A group of young volunteers get part of the credit for the shelves being well stocked. The following groups took turns collecting money and food in front of DeCicco’s Family Market:
-Boy Scout Troop 20
-Girl Cadette Troop 26
-CCHS National Honor Society, and
-The Cornwall Methodist Mission Kids
The young people distributed lists of the items needed by BFF and also accepted cash donations. Inside the store, there were BFF signs leading people to the foods that were needed.
BFF also got some unsolicited help. A group of youngsters contributed $100 from their summer lemonade stand. And the girls soccer team operated the concession at BFF’s Outdoor Movie Night.
BFF has placed a pair of drop-off bins, along with shopping lists, in the Cornwall Public Library. People can also find bins at Toodle’s Hair Salon, Walden Savings Bank and most local churches.
The next fund-raiser for BFF will be a repeat of last year’s Victorian Tea at St. John’s Episcopal Church. It will be held on a Sunday afternoon in February.
In the meantime, people keep asking what they can do to help, which is not surprising. It’s what you’d expect from a good community.
