Food Pantry Pleads for Donations
Help keep shelves stocked over the summer—and don't forget about food for pets.
Photos
Caldwell's Department of Human Services is making a plea to the community to help stock the shelves at the The Caldwell Food Pantry.
"Summer is traditionally the worst time for food donations,” stated Maria Burak, Director of Caldwell Human Services. “While we have been successful so far in keeping food available for local families with community food drives, the need continues to be great.”
Last month, the pantry gave out 165 bags of food to more than 64 households. Those households include 32 families that have 64 children in the Caldwell-West Caldwell school system as well as 15 senior citizens.
Jamie Campion, a local Girl Scout, is interested in expanding the pantry to serve another important member of the family—the family pet.
“Ever since I was little, I have had a deep love for animals,” stated Jamie.
The 14-year-old proposed to add an animal section to the Caldwell Food Pantry to allow pet owners the ability to keep their pets while going through a difficult economic time.
Food and pet donations can be made by dropping off items at the Caldwell Food Panty, 14 Park Ave., in Caldwell, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Donations should be placed on the shelves near the front door in the lobby of the Food Pantry building.
In addition to pet food and supplies, the pantry is always in need of paper goods, health and beauty aids and food items, such as peanut butter, tuna, coffee, tea, juice and “kid friendly” items.
Ellen Barrett
3:24 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
There is a bin at the rear entrance of Jack's Super Foodtown so it's convenient to purchase items there and have Jack's deliver them to the Caldwell Food Pantry.
Estele
12:37 pm on Sunday, August 5, 2012
I'm very torn about this article and what to do.
My gut tells me to drop off food plus other articles (bathroom paper, baby diapers & wipes), but then I find out that my mother-in-law has been going to the food pantry in her town (Union County) to pick up bag after bag of the same stuff I want to donate to my town's food pantry.
The one thing that is stopping me is the fact that my mother-in-law & father-in-law are worth over $5 million (excluding their property holdings). They dress in the same old threadbare & stained clothing every time they go to extort food from those who are trurly in need.
They totally look the part of someone in desperate & immediate need.
After discussing this with them, the moral & ethical wrongs of what they're doing, my mother-in-law told me to mind my own damn business.
I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do.
Catherine Kuzik-Fernandez
1:41 pm on Sunday, August 5, 2012
That's awful. Obviously your in-laws believe they are entitled to things they truly do not need.
If your gut is telling you to donate, then you should. Your in-laws seem to be very selfish and morally bankrupt people. Just remember, karma is a bitch.
LookinOutLady
12:49 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
What a wonderful girl Jamie is! It is so heartwarming to see someone so caring. The world needs more folks like her. I will be sure to donate items .
Mieleoffski
7:21 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
How do I volunteer to help out at the food pantry?