Eileen Tobin at St. Bartholomew's Food Pantry. Photo by Carol Hansen
The Webb Community Food Pantry at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Old Forge is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. to area households that qualify for food assistance, and according to Eileen Tobin, food pantry director, lately there has been an increased utilization of the service by area families due to the poor economy.
The list of staples at the pantry include juice, canned fruit and vegetables, dry milk, pancake mix, peanut butter, tuna, rice, coffee, tea, and cereal, Tobin said, with additional refrigerated and frozen items also available.
“Frozen hamburger, ham steaks and chicken are provided at cost by Dan’s Foodland in Eagle Bay, and we also have baby food and diapers,” she said.Tobin said food is donated by parishioners and other members of the community with support—when needed—by the Central New York Food Bank of Syracuse, and that a hundred area households have benefitted from their generosity.
Along with food items, the pantry also distributes monthly $25 vouchers that can be used at DiOrio’s Supermarket.
Vouchers in the amount of $15 are available for use at Kinney Drugs for items such as cold medicine or infant goods.
The vouchers are also funded by the monetary donations of parishioners and community members, as well as visitors to the area.
“Sometimes a successful hunter will come out of the woods in the fall and leave a big check on the table and say, ‘I’ve got my meat for the winter. Use this to give meat to someone else,’” Tobin said.
A team of volunteers helps unpack donated food and distribute the parcels on Tuesdays and Thursdays, according to Tobin, and though managing the Food Pantry is time consuming, she said it is a valuable community outreach program.
“I love it, and I love getting to know more people in our community,” she said.
For information on how to sign up for food assistance, call (315) 360-4231, or stop by the church on Crosby Blvd. during regular Food Pantry hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
Monetary donations and food donations are always appreciated and most welcome.
