Rappahannock Plant A Row

The 2009 contribution totals are in: in the seven months it was open last year, Food Pantry supporters contributed 6,484 lbs of fresh vegetables and 3,096 lbs of fresh fruit and nuts. In addition, donors provided 948 quarts of milk, 628 dozen eggs, 11,091 lbs of store bought and prepared foods, and 3,527 lbs of pet food. In a week or so, check out the Plant a Row website for a detailed listing of the produce and other food and items donated last year.

A big thank you to Cynthia Johnson, Michael McCormick, John and Joyce Palm, and Carol Ann Lowit for their generous checks in December! Thanks also to Judy DeSarno for her amazing donations over the holidays: 318 lbs of canned and boxed food, meat, produce, and bread, 50 quarts of milk and 20 dozen eggs!

Rappahannock Food Pantry manager, Mimi Forbes, holds an oil on panel painting by Washington artist Barbara Heile Sherwood. The painting depicts the produce area at ECow shortly after it opened in 2001. Ms. Sherwood gave the painting to Mimi and The Pantry, where it will hang.

Mr. Perry, a Wakefield Country Day School teacher, issued an interesting challenge to students and teachers before Christmas: if the school collected a large amount of canned and boxed food, he would eat a worm. It worked! Wakefield donated 887 lbs of food for the Pantry. and, apparently, a worm was consumed at a school assembly.

Thanks to all who donated funds (almost $1000!) and goods to Medical Missionaries as they help in Haiti. Here, again, is a list of the items that we’re collecting at The Pantry for Medical Missionaries:

• Soap
• Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Metal pots for cooking
• Baby Food and Wipes - no glass
• Flat Shoes
• Dried Foods (canned goods are too heavy and no way to open them)
• Clear plastic bottles (1 Liter to 1 Gallon size). Filled water bottles are too heavy
• Flat Sheets (no fitted)
• Tents or Tarps

The newly-opened Fauquier Community Thrift Store accepts clothing, furniture, and household items you no longer need. Profits from the sale of these items will benefit Fauquier Community Action Committee programs – one of which is the Rappahannock Food Pantry. The thrift shop is at 249 E. Shirley Ave. in Warrenton, next to the Warrenton Food Bank’s new location. Thrift store manager Dixie Sheetz (540 359-6054 or dsheetz@cwcap.org) welcomes volunteers.

Happy Birthday to Pantry volunteer extraordinaire John Mann, whose big day is Monday, January 25.  Stop by The Pantry this Tuesday and wish John well!  You might get cake!