Volunteers work to stock pantries of those in need

By Anthony V. Coppola, Staff Writer
   With the holidays approaching, local food pantries are preparing to make the season a memorable one for needy members of the community.
   Susan Rosser, director of the Harvest of Hope food pantry inside the parish hall of the Rose of Sharon Lutheran Church in North Hanover, said with 97 families on the books it will be a busy two months.
   ”Last year was our first time and it was trial by fire,” Ms. Rosser said. “This year we are ready to help even more.”
   On Nov. 20, the pantry, located on Chesterfield-Jacobstown Road, will distribute baskets to those in need of Thanksgiving dinner. Ms. Rosser said the pantry issued about 80 last season and with enrollment up this year, they could eclipse that mark.
   ”Last Saturday morning we had seven new families sign up,” she said. “With gas prices rising and so on, there has been a tremendous increase of people signing up.”
   She added about 25 percent of the families appear on a weekly basis while others come once a month or as needed.
   Food isn’t the only area with which Rose of Sharon assists its members. She said the church helps people find employment, permanent and temporary housing, contributes to rent, electric and heating bills, and even gas for transportation.
   ”If we can’t help them with a specific problem we try to point them in the right direction,” Ms. Rosser said. “We’ve dispersed over $15,000 over the last year.”
   To help with donations, various organizations such as local Boy and Girl Scout troops and parishioners donate food and volunteer time.
   ”We have a contest at the church between men and women to see who can bring in the most food,” she said. “That always generates a lot of success.”
   Ms. Rosser added local Girl Scouts will volunteer at the pantry by stocking supplies they donate. The Boy Scouts deliver food and pick up supplies from various members of the community who leave donations on their porch to support the cause.
   In Bordentown, St. Mary’s Catholic Church is also gearing up for the holiday season. Bob Jacobus, one of the coordinators of the food pantry, said area churches have teamed up to feed the needy for the last 25 years.
   The pantry, located on the grounds of the church at 45 Crosswicks St., distributes groceries five days a week and the St. Vincent De Paul society offers its services on Saturday.
   ”We are fortunate to get donations from all types of local businesses, churches and organizations,” Mr. Jacobus said. “We always hold collections for food and monetary donations. This is a year-round effort.”
   For Thanksgiving, Mr. Jacobus said, the pantry usually has about 20 to 30 turkeys donated each year and distributes them according to the needs of the people that rely on the pantry. He added about 35 groups regularly visit the pantry each week and the families consist upwards of five members. St. Mary’s parish utilizes 25 to 30 volunteers and experiences heavier volumes in the winter.
   Ms. Rosser and Mr. Jacobus indicated the organizations couldn’t achieve the success they do without the kindness of the people sharing in this cause.
   ”It’s great that people are very generous around the holidays,” Ms. Rosser said. “It can be hard for a lot of people struggling out there.”
   Those wishing to donate to the Rose of Sharon Lutheran Church can reach the pantry at 609-758-3680. The St. Mary’s food pantry is also accepting donations and can be contacted at 609-298-0261.