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s e r v i n g tay l or , ol d F or g e , moosic & surrounding areas triborobanner.com | February 23, 2017
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Riverside’s Billy Nash will play football for Bloomsburg |PAge 5
feeding the hungry Food pantry established at St. Michael’s By Josh McAuliffe
sPeciAl To The TRiBoRo BANNeR
Low-income families in Old Forge, Taylor and Duryea now have access to a much-needed community resource thanks to St. Michael’s Orthodox Church in Old Forge. Back in the fall, the church established its own food pantry for needy Downvalley residents. Operated by church rector the Rev. Peter Henry his wife, Matuska Mary Lynn Henry, and a dedicated group of parishioners and other community volunteers, the pantry is open the first Thursday and the third Saturday of every month from 11 a.m. to noon at the church hall, 512 Winter St. According to Rev. Henry, the pantry is the only one serving residents of Old Forge, Taylor and Duryea. “We’re still getting the word out on it,” he said. “We feel blessed that we can do this. We would just love for more people to come and not feel embarrassed.” Henry said it was shortly after he arrived at the church when a parishioner mentioned the idea of starting a food pantry. “I thought, ‘Boy, that would be nice to do that someday,’” Rev. Henry said. Running with the idea, he decided to research the concept by volunteering at a Scranton pantry operated by St. Tik-
TS_CNG/TRIBORO/PAGES [T01] | 02/22/17
hon’s Monastery. From there, he visited several more area food pantries, and received assistance from the Bread Basket of Northeastern Pennsylvania. St. Michael’s ended up partnering with the Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank to get the pantry up and running. That partnership led to the Scranton Area Community Foundation giving the church a $3,000 grant to purchase shelving units, tables, rolling carts and chairs for the pantry. Meanwhile, the church has gotten additional assistance via sponsorships from local businesses like Ray’s Supermarket, Pennsylvania Paper & Supply Co. and Romar Dance Studio. And, Nearme Yoga and several local churches have conducted food drives on behalf of the pantry. Much of the pantry’s food supply comes from the Weinberg food bank, Rev. Henry said. The inventory includes canned fruits and vegetables, several types of juice, cereal and frozen items like chicken and fish filets, which are stored in an industrial freezer provided by Weinberg. In addition, the food pantry includes a number of non-food items, including paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste, diapers and shampoo, Rev. Henry said. So far, about 25 local families have been served by the food pantry, according to Rev. Henry. Most leave with about four bags of food and non-food products. The pantry’s clientele ranges from handicapped people to single mothers to those who have just lost their job. No matter their circumstances, all visitors
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The Scranton Area Foundation donated $3,000 to St. Michael’s Orthodox Church in Old Forge to assist with establishing a food pantry that will serve residents in Old Forge, Taylor and Duryea. From left: Laura Ducceschi of the Scranton Area Foundation, Mary Lynn Henry and Rev. Peter Henry of St. Michael’s Orthodox Church and Cathy Fitzpatrick of the Scranton Area Foundation.
are treated with kindness, compassion and respect. “I like that we don’t just hand them the food and then they leave,” Mrs. Henry said. “We spend time with them, and get to know them. One lady said, ‘I can’t believe you’re sitting here talking to me like we’re friends.’ They feel more at ease that way.” Mrs. Henry said she and Rev. Henry
always leave a food pantry session feeling overjoyed by yet another opportunity to reach out and help their fellow man. “I don’t feel like it’s a charity. It’s a gift — on both sides,” she said. “I just love it. It’s been a great experience.” For more information on requirements for receiving food from the pantry, or to make a food or monetary donation, call the church office at 570457-3703, or visit stmichaelof.org.