Letter to the Editor

Non-food Pantry promises wise use of funds

Thursday, June 16, 2016

To the Editor:

We, at the Putnam County Non-food Pantry, were thrilled to be the latest recipient of the generous donation from the 100 Men Who Care. And to receive $12,100. Wow! What an honor!

As the director of the Non-food Pantry, I see first-hand every month the tremendous need of this segment of our community. And it warms my heart to know there are men like these in our community who care about our fellow community members so much that they are willing to donate such a large sum of money to our cause.

I will tell you just a little more about us so you will know where the money is going and possibly how it will be spent. The Putnam County Non-food Pantry is the only non-food pantry in Putnam County. It is hosted by St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Greencastle.

We serve all citizens of Putnam County. They must show proof of residency. Though we have been known to help an out-of-county friend or two after suggesting they search for a pantry in their county next time. I must say that all the volunteers have love in their hearts for those who may be in need or hurting and will not turn them away. While helping at the Non-food Pantry, some of our volunteers have paid for diapers for a mother in need, taken a family to a motel so they would have a place to stay for the night, bought a new winter coat for a mother who walks to our pantry each month, bought a refrigerator for another family, and even paid for a family to go to the park pool for the day.

We offer a light lunch of turkey/cheese, ham/cheese, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with fruit, cookies, and coffee and lemonade. Our patrons are very grateful for the lunch and always thank us for the meal.

At least three times a year we try to entice the families to bring their children by giving away holiday treat bags or some such item. Besides the actual "treats" that are usually home-baked by the ladies of St. Andrew's, these may include individual toothpastes and toothbrushes (donated by local dentists), books, or even a small toy. This way we can be sure the children are getting a healthy lunch, too.

We offer items in our pantry that food vouchers do not pay for, but are essential to daily life. Some of our items include: paper towels, toilet paper, dish soap, bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, diapers, foil, trash bags and cleaners. We even make our own natural homemade laundry detergent and offer it to our clients.

Their generous donation will allow us to continue to do the work we are doing. Currently we serve between 180-220 families each month. Our numbers continue to climb. We feel very strongly that we want to continue to offer the items we now carry as well as a healthy lunch each month, with the help of the 100 Men Who Care, we feel we can do this, We are also in need of new technology to inventory our supplies and to keep track of our client list. We may have to purchase this and were at a loss on how to do this before their donation came through.

So, again, from all of us at the PCNFP, a great big thank you. We promise to put the money to good use.

Karen Hirt Mannon
Director
Putnam County Non-food Pantry