Pantry packs boxes of sunshine for Pike seniors

By Frances Ruth Harris
MILFORD — There's nothing quite like a big box filled with goodies, just for you.
Volunteer Jim Snodgrass said the Ecumenical Food Pantry's once-a-month "sunshine boxes" help senior citizens live healthier lives by allowing them to continue to prepare food in their own homes. Without these boxes of extra food, he said, some seniors would go hungry.
The sunshine boxes are made possible by the food pantry and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The seniors who received them couldn't say "thank you" enough times.
The pantry recently welcomed Lisa Speer of Dingman Township to her first day of volunteering. She called the pantry asking what to bring, then stopped to pick up jelly and other staples to fill the empty pantry shelves.
Speer looks forward to lending a hand at the pantry any time they need her. She said she appreciated learning about the opportunities for volunteers at the pantry from a recent Courier story (http://bit.ly/2uxOGSc).
Saige Davis and Sherman Williams volunteer when their grandmother, volunteer pantry director Nancy Potter, works at the pantry. Saige is good at stacking, while Sherman carries the boxes, with healthy sides of good humor and goodwill. They helped a delighted Kathy Baker from Milford as she picked up her sunshine box.
Lois Richards of Matamoras said sunshine boxes help keep things on an even keel, foodwise, at her house. Barbara Macali said she appreciates the boost a sunshine box brings to her kitchen every month.
Potter said she is lucky to be able to give her time and energy. Many who come to the pantry have needs, stresses, and challenges beyond imaging. Some seniors are raising as many as five grandchildren. Anyone who wants to help out may call her at 570-618-1568.
Bags and boxes of food may be left on the pantry's porch, in the big blue containers. Volunteers retrieve the donations and add them to the pantry’s supplies.
Donation checks may be made payable to the Ecumenical Food Pantry and mailed to 321 Fifth Street, Milford, PA 18337.