Help fight hunger at the holidays

WARWICK — The Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry has commenced its 2017 Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Basket Program to benefit hungry families.
Through the generosity of the community, the program provides all the makings of a Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. In addition, at Christmas children 16 years of age or younger receive a gift and parents have an opportunity to purchase additional presents in our Christmas Shop at nominal cost.
Families wishing to receive baskets need to provide two items, with physical street address (no post office boxes), evidencing residence in the Town of Warwick (except families eligible to obtain holiday food baskets at the Greenwood Lake Food Pantry).
Acceptable evidence includes: driver’s license or non-driver’s identification; lease or rental agreement; utility bill (electric, gas, oil, propane); telephone, internet service or cable television bill; bank statement; green card; letter from school or employer verifying residence; or other similar evidence.
Sign up: From Sept. 28 to Oct. 31Sign-up for the program begins Thursday, Sept. 28, and concludes Tuesday, Oct. 31. There will be no sign-ups after that date.
Sign-up takes place at Warwick United Methodist Church, 135 Forester Avenue corner of Galloway Road/Route 17A, entry at the far right from the rear parking lot. Hours are Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m.
Volunteer, donate, distributeMembers of the community who wish to help may do so best by providing a basket for either or both holidays, with opportunities available from single person senior households to large multi-generational families.
• Community members also may volunteer on distribution days (Tuesday, Nov. 21, and Thursday Dec. 21).
• Expressions of interest may be made to 986-8368 or info@warwickpantry.com.
• The pantry always is pleased to receive monetary donations to help support the program. Monetary donations may be delivered or mailed to the church, attention: Holiday Food Basket Program, or made by credit card at www.warwickpantry.com.
• A tab on the pantry website labeled “Holiday Baskets” contains all of the relevant information.