Donations Needed to Help Babies (at Food Pantries all over the US!)

[Breeze54]

Donations Needed to Help Babies

http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=7423308

Wednesday, November 28, 6:38 p.m.
By Sarah Buynovsky

It's a heart-wrenching plea for assistance from a group that helps the most innocent.
The Volunteers of America say they desperately need diapers, formula and food for needy babies.

Baby Trenton is three months old, doing just fine, with plenty to eat and enough diapers. His mom
said that's thanks to Volunteers of America, which supply her with the things she needs to care for her infant.

"If I didn't have the help I don't even know where I would be right now," said Leighann Keita of Nanticoke.
She is one of more than 140 mothers in the area getting assistance from Volunteers of America.

The problem is the shelves at the Wilkes-Barre office are almost bare and the calls for help keep coming in.

"It kills us when we don't have the resources to be able to serve," said VOA Vice President Bill Jones.

"Can you imagine the homes I don't see? That I don't know about?" asked Crystal Parker of VOA.

The volunteers need diapers, wipes, formula and food to help babies who need them, babies like Trenton.

"We need help. We need to help these babies," Parker added.

The people at the Volunteers of America said if they don't get donations soon, their shelves will be completely bare by the end of next week.

If you'd like to make a donation, you can drop it off at their Wilkes-Barre office at 25 North River Street or call 570-825-5261.

http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/news/2007/nov/29/charities-see-greater-need-less-giving/">Charities see greater need, less giving

By James Cullum
Source: Fairfax County Times
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 2007

Volunteers at local charities share a widespread hope that the cold-weather season will be mercifully short, that the economy will improve and that the increase in needs will steadily be reversed.

People who would normally give during the holiday season seem to be holding on to their cash and food donations, while low-income families are getting poorer as winter approaches and the heating bill inevitably rises.

“There have been job layoffs because of construction, housing market problems, gasoline cost increases, rents are going up, food is going up and no prices are going down, and incomes are not going up incrementally to cover that,” said Pat Gauthier, executive director of the Ecumenical Community Helping Others charity in Springfield.

more...

http://www.bdtonline.com/princeton/local_story_334135731.html">Pantries need giving spirits to fill shelves


Published: November 30, 2007 01:57 pm

By MARK BLEVINS
Princeton Times

PRINCETON —

Christmas is known as a time of giving, and local food pantries are in need of the giving spirit. Officials with the local pantries said they desperately need food to help those in need this holiday season.

Capt. Burl LaBatte, of the Salvation Army, said his organization need canned goods.

“Those are the fastest to go. We need canned soups, vegetables, and fruits. We service a five-county area: Mercer, Monroe, McDowell, Summers, and Tazewell County,” LaBatte said.

more...

Rockland groups hold toy and food drives for holidays

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/NEWS03/711290390/1019/NEWS03

snip-->

Earlier this week, Dolores Treger of People to People was anxiously waiting for more participants in the annual Santa Project. Under the program, needy Rockland families send a holiday wish list for their children to People to People because they themselves are unable to afford them.

Local residents then "adopt" one of the letters and commit to fulfilling the holiday wish list, which typically includes toys and clothing.

The food pantry has so far received 1,200 letters. Only 900 letters have been adopted.
Approximately 300 more need takers. No more letters are being accepted for this year's holidays,
though People to People will accept food for the holidays until Dec. 20.

People who wish to participate have until Dec. 5 to adopt a letter, and from Dec. 7 to 9 to drop
off the gifts at the Orangeburg armory, where gifts are stored until they are distributed prior to Christmas.

All toys would be need to be free of lead and other contaminants. The food pantry was discussing concerns with donors, said Treger, but most people had ensured their gifts were safe.

The Nyack Homeless Project was urging donations of gently used coats, hats, gloves, new underwear
and socks, small toiletries and boxed and canned foods for homeless men, women, teens and children.
The gifts, accepted through Dec. 22, will be delivered to shelters in Rockland and New York City on
Christmas Day, said Litany Burns, a member of the agency's advisory board.

In addition to religious and nonprofit organization, some businesses in the county were also collecting toys and food.

more....

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. I feel so badly about this, usually I can donate, but not now.

I'm having trouble keeping us in food this month, there is no extra for the food banks this season.
I just hope I can manage to not become one of their recipients, the next few months are looking bleak. :(

[Breeze54]

2. I'm trying to move and

all my money will be tied up in 1st, last and security.

But I think I can manage something small.

I donated candy canes last year! :D They were free to me and kids enjoy them.

If there's a two for one sale, I'll try to do that but $$ is very tight for me too.

:hi:

[NC_Nurse]

3. Is DU gonna do a Second Harvest fundraiser this year?

I haven't seen anything....

[Breeze54]

6. I have no idea. Did they do one last year?

:shrug:

I'd rather they do a food pantry fund raiser though.

[NC_Nurse]

9. Yes, we got over $20,000 for them last year.

Don't they supply food pantries? I'm not really sure how they operate, but I know
they feed a lot of people.

[Breeze54]

10. It looks like they do, I must have been

thinking of 'Feed the Children'.

http://www.secondharvest.org/

National Call for Support

We are calling for donations to solve the holiday food shortage at food banks nationwide.
Your donation can be a part of providing 15 million pounds of food to hungry Americans.
http://www.secondharvest.org/how_to_help/call_to_action.html

-----

The Greater Boston Food Bank
99 Atkinson Street
Boston, MA 02118-2701
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Executive Director: Catherine D'Amato
Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.gbfb.org
Media Contact: Stephanie Nichols
Title: PR Manager
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Population served
Number of counties served: 9
Total pounds of food distributed annually: 25,341,623

Looks like they do! :D

[NC_Nurse]

11. Thanks for posting the info.

I just gave them $50. You have inspired me.:hi:

[Breeze54]

12. You're a sweety!

That was a very kind thing to do! :D

:hi:

[Blackhatjack]

4. I posted a 1-1-1 Challenge Here A week ago but it dropped like a rock...

1-1-1 CHallenge: Donate at least one(1) can of food to a food bank or food charity, AND give at least $1 dollar to a food charity, AND tell at least one other person to do the same.

Simple. Easy. And it could make the difference whether people will go hungry in this country.

The shortages experienced by food banks and food delivery charities is extreme, especially in light of the major increases in people seeking food assistance.

[Breeze54]

5. I can definately do that! ~ Sorry I missed your thread.

:hi:

That's a great idea!

[Blackhatjack]

7. Small donations in large enough numbers Will Make A Difference!

THe real power in this is not the $1 and one can of food, which might amount to less than $2 outlay--but rather it draws in others in large numbers who complain they would like to help but can't afford to do so.

Once you see how big the need is there is no way you will not be changed.

[Breeze54]

8. I don't think people are complaining they would like to help but can't afford to do so

They are probably the people in need of help!!

Kind of dumb to be donating if you are also a recipient.

I suspect there are lots & lots of new people going to

pantries but they don't want anyone to know about it.

If someone says they can't afford it; I believe them.