Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry distributes more than 200 Christmas food baskets

WARWICK — On Thursday, Dec. 21, approximately 50 volunteers for the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry collected and distributed 203 Christmas food baskets at the Warwick United Methodist Church on 17A and Forester Avenue.
According to Holiday Basket Director Marge Koopman, this communitywide effort, which brought volunteers together from the entire town, resulted in another generous number of food baskets delivered to needy families, that had been "adopted."
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. Koopman reported that 203 families had been "adopted" this year.
"We are very grateful and thankful for all the support we've received," she said. "We continue to be amazed at the generosity of the people in this wonderful community of Warwick. We thank everyone who donated food and gifts and all our volunteers for their service. And we are especially grateful to all the schools, the churches, businesses and organizations."
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.
Glenn Dickes, director of the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry, urges residents and businesses to reach out and make a difference to a disadvantaged family or a lonely senior throughout the year.
The Food Pantry is located at a facility inside the United Methodist Church on Forester Avenue.
- Roger Gavan