Where you can go and help others

In its inaugural year —1977 — the Greece Ecumenical Food Shelf gave just three Thanksgiving baskets to families in need. This Thanksgiving, they gave 224.

“It’s our busiest week of the year,” said Amy Peritsky, chairperson of the food shelf, when I visited three days before Thanksgiving.

In the hour and a half I was there, over 1,000 pounds of food was brought to the group’s immaculate and well-run distribution center at 500 Maiden Lane.

Year round, the emergency food shelf helps about 5,500 residents of Greece and Charlotte.

Over 200 volunteers work tirelessly in a variety of roles at the organization, including: food sorters, shelf stockers, shoppers, packers, drivers, dispatchers and verifiers. Verifiers speak to clients who call in need of food.

“I had one call from a gentleman who was self-employed and when the season changed he found himself with no jobs and no food for his family,” recalled longtime volunteer Nancy Landas. “He was so mortified he tried to hang up and I said ‘No, please don’t hang up, we’re here to help you. This is what emergency need means.’”

The majority of those receiving food have it delivered right to their door by volunteers, eliminating their need to get to the distribution center (which volunteers say can often be a hardship due to transportation or mobility issues).

In October 2017, the group served 585 people (an increase of about 50 from October 2016.) Since July of 2017 they’ve helped 7% more people than last year.

“It’s nice to know we’re helping people who have great needs,” said volunteer Judy Boily, of Greece. “Until I got involved I had no idea how many people had these needs. And, they’re not all elderly or disabled, it can be anyone.”

Food donations come from individuals, churches, other organizations that run food drives (like the Greece Teachers Association) and Foodlink.

The food shelf’s neediest time of the year for food donations is in the summer when kids are home from school. The need for volunteers is continuous.

Shirley Munson, a volunteer for the past four decades and current secretary, was one of the founders of the food shelf, along with Gus and Ruth Olson, Hannalore Mischeke, Nancy Posson, Jan and Jack Bansbachm and Mona Durgin.

The Greece Ecumenical Food Shelf also has a clothing closet open 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday to Saturday (for Greece and Charlotte residents only) also at 500 Maiden Lane.

If you’re interested in making a holiday food basket, volunteering or donating to the Greece Ecumenical Food Shelf, please visit sites.google.com/site/greecenyfoodshelf/ If you’re in need of food, please call (585) 277-5370.

Other west-side giving opportunities

Last week I put a call out for nonprofits needing donations and/or volunteers this holiday season. I received many emails! Over the next few weeks I will be sharing those opportunities with you here. If you haven’t already emailed, please do!

Brockport

At 4 p.m. on Dec. 2, the Brockport Symphony will collect canned food for the Brockport Ecumenical Food Shelf at the orchestra's free 8th Annual Holiday Pops Concert. The concert will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 14 State St., Brockport. The food shelf’s top three current needs are: rice, pasta and soup.

Hamlin

The Life Solutions Food Pantry provides food to over 60 families in Hamlin each month and Christmas dinners to over 100 families.

To raise money for this food, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 2, the nonprofit will hold its 7th annual Community Children's Holiday Bazaar at St. John Lutheran Church, 1107 Lake Rd. West Fork, Hamlin.

Children and adults are invited to shop for gifts at prices starting at 25 cents. Food will be available for purchase and there will be free gift wrapping, crafts and a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus. For more information call (585) 964-7420 or visit http://www.lifesolutionshamlin.org.

Contact Caurie at caurie@urgrad.rochester.edu with news from west-side towns. She’s on Twitter at @CauriePutnam and on Facebook at facebook.com/WestExtra.