Ossining Food Pantry Fall 2018 Update
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30 Years of Service to the Community
As many of you know, 2018 marks the Food Pantry's 30th year of service to the community. Each week, over 100 dedicated volunteers donate their time so that our neighbors in need may have food on their tables. Our wonderful volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks including purchasing food from Shoprite and Feeding Westchester (formerly the Food Bank for Westchester), unloading trucks and vans with food deliveries, distributing food to our clients, conducting outreach efforts so we stay "top of mind" with community organizations and staying in contact with our loyal donors. Our volunteers are dedicated and passionate about the need to help our neighbors. Similarly, our loyal donors continue to support us year in and year out. Their financial contributions go toward the purchase of food and enable us to keep the doors open. The Ossining Food Pantry is truly a community effort with hundreds of volunteers and financial donors coming together to help our neighbors. It is inspiring to see and we say THANK YOU to everyone involved!
Thank you for being a part of the Ossining Food Pantry's efforts!
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30th Anniversary Celebration Event
Funds raised, donors and volunteers celebrated!
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On September 30, 2018, the Ossining Food Pantry held its 30th annual fund-raising event. The Celebration event raised funds through ticket sales and also allowed us to "celebrate" our volunteers and donors. This year's event was graciously hosted by Susan and Peter Chatzky on the grounds of their Briarcliff Manor home. Generous underwriters for the event included: Mrs. Connie Curran, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, Church of St. Augustine, Scarborough Presbyterian Church and Sam's Club, Elmsford, NY. Those attending enjoyed delicious food, libations, music, raffle prizes and a silent auction. All proceeds go toward the purchase of food for our clients. We thank everyone who worked to make the event a success and thanks again to all who attended.
Photo: Martin B. Engelhardt, Jr., President with event co-chairs Jackie Zirman (L) and Emily Taggart (R)
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We are pleased to highlight Ollie Hines in our Volunteer Spotlight report. Ollie is a long-time volunteer who began working at the Pantry in 1992 after retiring from IBM. During the past 25+ years, Ollie has played a key role in a variety of positions including Friday morning distribution of food at Trinity Church, Wednesday morning unloading food deliveries from Feeding Westchester, and Wednesday evenings helping to pack bags of food. While performing many of these important jobs, Ollie also took responsibility for the health and safety measures necessary to protect our clients and volunteers. Since retirement, IBM has recognized Ollie's volunteer work by awarding annual grants to the Food Pantry. The grants, in honor of Ollie, have helped to feed many clients over the years. At present, Ollie continues his role leading the Safety Committee and serves on the Food Pantry's Board of Directors.
Thank you Ollie for your 25+ years of service to our Pantry and the community!
Photo: Ollie Hines September 2016
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Food Insecurity in Westchester
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Recently, the Economic Policy Institute reported on the cost for a family to live in Westchester County. The group estimates that it costs approximately $129,000 per year in order for a family of four to fund items such as housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes and "other necessities" such as clothing, household supplies and personal care items. This total is well out of reach for many people today. An adult working 40 hours per week in a minimum wage ($11/hour) job will earn less than $23,000. Families in this predicament may be forced to choose between food or clothing or between food and paying rent. This is the essence of
food insecurity
and is one of the main reasons why the Ossining Food Pantry exists. We don't believe that our neighbors should have to choose between food and other basic necessities.
Food insecurity
occurs more often than most people think. The face of hunger in America has changed. Hunger is no longer a problem solely of the homeless. All types of people -- some who have worked their entire lives -- are challenged by this issue in today's economy.
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Briarcliff Manor Village Park and Recreation Summer Camp
Supports the Food Pantry
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As part of the Westchester Recreation and Parks Society initiative, summer camps throughout Westchester are asked to set aside a day to have campers bring in non-perishables for their local food pantries. This summer, the Village of Briarcliff Manor Recreation Department Tree Camp & Super Camp Program made a generous donation of food to the Ossining Food Pantry. Headed by Ms. Karen Kuzio, Recreation Supervisor, the children collected almost $500 of non-perishable food items for Food Pantry clients. Ms. Kuzio states that this is part of an ongoing effort by the Village's Tree and Super Camp programs to help the hungry in our area. She states that the children are proud to collect the food and help their neighbors in need.
We thank everyone who donated food!
Photo: Karen Kuzio, Village of Briarcliff Manor Recreation Supervisor
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We'd Like to Hear from You!
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Thanks to those of you who wrote and called with questions and suggestions.
Comments? Suggestions? Please email your ideas to
[email protected]
and note NEWSLETTER in the subject line.
Thank You!
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Ossining Food Pantry, PO Box 869, Ossining, NY 10562
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