“Things don’t look good.”

Carleen Faatz, Director of Community Services, Wayne County Area Agency on Aging, says the shelves are getting bare at the Wayne County Food Pantry.

“We’ve noticed that, this year, the Feed a Friend barrels are not getting collections like they normally do,” she said.

Faatz says they have about 30 food collection barrels placed throughout Wayne County, at area banks, grocery stores and businesses. “Normally, by this time, we’ve had the agencies call us to pick up already,” she said. This year, the barrels aren’t even half full.

“Shaffer’s Hardware in Hamlin does an amazing collection every year,” Faatz said, about their participation. Store Manager Ginger Repsher says customers have been “quite generous” with their financial contributions, but says their food barrel has been “hurting this year.” She says, “It’s pretty obvious what the reason is.” With tough financial times, Faatz is seeing the same thing. She said more and more people need help, but donations are starting to dwindle. “I think money’s just tight for everybody, so people aren’t giving as much, which is understandable. It’s a tough call,” Faatz said.  

Repsher says Brian and Karen Shaffer, owners of Shaffer’s Hardware, have issued a challenge to their employees. For every can or boxed donation they bring in, the Shaffers will match the donation. Repsher says they’re rising to the challenge. “We’ve got some stuff in the box,” she said.

The collection is personal for Repsher. “When I was a child, both of my parents died ...We were left in my grandmother’s care and there were four of us. There were times when we were on the receiving end of programs like this. For me, personally, it’s just a matter of being able to give back.”

Faatz also thanked Honesdale High School student Corinne Gelatt for placing food bins at the Damascus and Preston Schools as part of her senior project.

Local radio station, Sunny 105, collected several hundred dollars worth of food for the pantry. Joanne Hohman and Tim Downs, who host casino caravan trips to Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, offered listeners a discounted ticket price if they brought in at least $5 worth of non-perishable food items. “We plan to do more fundraising oriented trips next year,” said Downs, also a Sunny 105 radio personality.    

 
Needed items
“We’d be happy to take any and all donations,” Faatz said. Susan Ford, Area Agency on Aging, says they could always use juice, pasta and spaghetti sauce, canned vegetables and fruit. Faatz says baby food is also appreciated.

Ford says, “There’s just such a need for it.” Even buying $5 worth of food would make such a big difference, she said.“That’s a meal for someone for a day.”

 Along with the non perishable food items, they’re collecting paper products, cleaning supplies, as well as donations of good, used clothing. Items may be dropped off at the Honesdale Senior Center anytime between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more details, contact Faatz or Wayne County Food Pantry Coordinator Kathleen Terry at 253-4262.

“Every little bit helps. There’s no donation too small,” Faatz said.