Help for The Pantry

When I went to drop off the EatingOxford.com donation of $1,000 to The Pantry last week (thank you to everyone who came out to my anniversary event for helping to make this donation possible!), I was lucky enough to have longtime Pantry volunteer June Rosentreter show me around the facility.

What concerned me most were the number of bare shelves inside The Pantry despite the fact that the facility helps feed more than 400 people every month, including elderly residents who are homebound. Help comes from multiple sources such as the Memphis Food Bank and local grocers such as Walmart and Big Star (Kroger has yet to assist, so if you know anyone there, maybe you can help pull some strings). Even with this help, however, the number of Oxonians who need assistance continues to grow, resulting in a greater need for people like you and me to help when we can.

If you’re someone who likes to volunteer, The Pantry is always looking for folks to help organize food drives and to volunteer at the facility. Call 662-832-8001 if this sounds like something up your alley. If you’d be interested in helping to deliver food to the homebound, call June directly at 662-234-8063.

Food drives are an easy and fun motivational event to organize anywhere (offices, schools, restaurants, etc.). You can also drop off bags or boxes of food at any time (at your convenience) on the porch of The Pantry—day or night—at 713 Molly Barr Road (next door to the Oxford Police Department).

June provided the following wish list of food items that The Pantry is always in need of:

• 1 lb. box oatmeal – regular or 1 minute
• 1 lb. bag orbox  2minute grits
• 1 lb. package spaghetti
• 1 lb.  bag rice
• Canned fruit
• Canned meats
• Canned evaporated milk
• Canned tomatoes
• Canned soup:   chicken noodle
• Canned beans
• Snack puddings and pudding mixes
• Dry milk
• 5 lb. bag sugar
• 5 lb. bag self rising flour
• 5 lb. bag self rising meal
• 1 ½ pints or 24 oz.  bottle of Canola or vegetable oil
•  Peanut Butter

Note:  More people can be served if smaller bags of food such as rice, cereal, dry milk, etc. are provided rather than large bags.  This also leaves less likelihood of waste.