250 Christmas food baskets delivered

WARWICK — On Thursday, Dec. 20, volunteers for the Warwick Ecumenical Council collected and distributed 250 Christmas food baskets at the Warwick United Methodist Church on 17A and Forester Avenue.

According to Chairperson Marge Koopman, this community wide effort, which brought volunteers together from the entire town, resulted in another record number of food baskets delivered to needy families.

The number of baskets was only slightly lower than last year’s 255, but Koopman explained that late requests were likely to make the final tally about the same or more.

“Because of the continued slow economy, job losses and natural disasters,” she said, “there was still a strong demand for help throughout the year. And we continue to be amazed at the generosity of the people in this wonderful community of Warwick. We thank everyone who donated food and all our volunteers for their service. This is a great place to live.”

$100,000

Glenn Dickes, treasurer of the Warwick Ecumenical Council Food Pantry, reported that the organization had donated $90,000 in cash this past year and he expected that the Food Pantry will need $100,000 in 2013.

“We are helping some people today who used to be donors,” said Dickes. “God bless the generosity of everyone in this community.”

Many of the donations, especially toys, came from the Angel Tree, which had been set up on Main Street in the Village of Warwick during the celebration of Home for the Holidays.

‘Need doesn’t end’

Betsy Mitchell, co-owner of Track 7 Postal Center, which has been supportive in this project, said that her fund raising for the Food Pantry will simply be ongoing throughout this year and years to come.

“The need doesn’t end with the holiday season,” she said.

Each year at this time individuals and organizations are invited to adopt a family and to provide baskets and gifts, donate cash, collect food and toys or volunteer on the distribution day.

In a program at the church, managed by Debbie Moran, affectionately known as “The Toy Lady,” needy families who came to pick up their Christmas food baskets, also have an opportunity to select a free toy or purchase a more expensive one for a token sum of one dollar.

Cash, food, clothing

The Warwick Ecumenical Council urges residents and businesses to reach out and make a difference to a disadvantaged family or a lonely senior.

The council’s food pantry is located at a facility inside the United Methodist Church.

“In this current economy,” said food pantry co-coordinator Michelle Carter, “We are more in need than ever for donations of cash, food and clothing.”

- Roger Gavan