Food pantries get Greater Pike grants for greater needs

Four area food pantries recently received $1,000 each from Greater Pike Community Foundation to assist their efforts to fight food insecurity and support people in need in the community. Grants were awarded to the Ecumenical Food Pantry of Pike County in Milford, the Good Cheer Food Pantry at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Greeley, the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry in Dingmans Ferry, and the St. Ann’s Food Pantry in Shohola.

The funds come at a critical time for area food pantries, with colder weather and the holidays approaching, as well as a steady increase in families seeking assistance.

“This money will be used to purchase food items for our annual Day of Giving on November 21,” said Barbara Hupfer, Food Pantry Coordinator at Holy Trinity in Dingmans Ferry. “Our Day of Giving is the day we distribute Thanksgiving meal items to those in need in the community. We also provide breakfast and the opportunity to shop for blankets and winter outerwear.”

Pike County’s Ecumenical Food Pantry in Milford is “extremely grateful for this $1,000 grant because we’re seeing a steady increase in the number of families coming to the pantry,” said Nancy Potter, Food Pantry director. “So far this year we are averaging about 60 families per week, which is a big increase for us, and we see new families each week.” The pantry also has been working to offer families a choice of nutritious foods, she said.

“Our local food pantries need community support year-round,” said Gail Shuttleworth, Chair of the Greater Pike Board of Directors. “We hope this funding will not only help provide food to those in need but function as inspiration to others to donate, volunteer or otherwise get involved in the fight against hunger.”