Rappahannock Plant A Row

The Pantry is a year old! During its first year, the Rappahannock community and others donated almost 20 tons of food and more than 3 tons of pet food, 1300 dozen eggs, and 450 gallons of milk. Plant a Row gardeners and local farmers contributed more than 5 tons of fruit and vegetables. As of the end of May, the Pantry is serving 285 households.

Stop by the Pantry Thursday, June 3, from 4:00 to 6:00 for nibbles and a glass of Trader Joe’s best (well, maybe not their best) as we celebrate the Pantry’s first birthday. The Pantry is located at 603 Mt. Salem Avenue in Washington (phone 675-1177).

April’s Food Pantry benefit at the home of John and Beverly Sullivan, plus proceeds from Betsey Apple’s book signing, netted the Pantry nearly $10,000. An additional $2,000 came in for Hoop House expenses. The Rappahannock Association for the Arts and Community’s (RAAC) one-act plays and comedy performances brought in $600. And Flint Hill Baptist Church delivered the congregation’s second of four intended $625 checks. This financial support is critical since government funding will decline this year.

The Pantry lost a great friend with Esther Settle’s death. Her generosity was truly remarkable.

Cheryl Mirabella, nutritional health coach and wellness educator, will offer free healthy eating coaching to Pantry recipients. She has tips on how to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar by healthier eating – and on a limited food budget. Drop by the Pantry for Cheryl’s healthy food demonstration and sampling on Tuesday, June 15 from 12:00 – 2:00. All are invited! Feel free to chat with her about your dietary health questions and concerns. For more information about Cheryl and her services go to http://www.livingwholehealth.com.

When you visit the Pantry, you may notice how spiffy the floors look. Volunteer and Pantry Advisor Noel Laing is now “Pantry maintenance supervisor” and supervised himself scrubbing and waxing the wood floors. Cintas of Culpeper donated new mats. Between recipients, donors and volunteers, the Pantry gets a lot of traffic.

Also notice the small demonstration garden behind the picnic table at the Pantry. Farm-to-Table chief Trista Scheuerlein managed its construction with the help of Pantry director Mimi Forbes, students, observers, and volunteers. So far so good – few weeds and thriving vegetable plants! Artist Kim Bealle of D&K Design is designing a sign for the garden. Farm-to-Table and Peggy Doyle contributed vegetable plants for Pantry gardeners to plant in their own gardens.

Kaye Johnson did an outstanding job of promoting the Food Pantry and Plant a Row at the Waterpenny Plant Sale on May 1. Kaye and her husband, Tom, have been super Pantry volunteers from its start.

Need a desk? You, too, can own an authentic reproduction of the famed Rappahannock County Circuit Court desk. Furniture maker E.A. Clore & Sons offers the desks in oak, cherry, walnut and mahogany for $1,345, $400 of which will benefit the Pantry and the Rappahannock Free Clinic. To order, contact Al Henry at 675-3490 or 347-7826.