Rappahannock Plant A Row

This month’s blizzards took a toll on the Food Pantry, which closed two days because of the snow.  And  recipients often couldn’t make it to the Pantry even when it was open.  Bring on spring!

The good news is that generosity abounds — fair weather or foul. A great example is Griffin Tavern owners, Jim and Debbie Donehey, and Tavern Chef Victor McLawhorn. Christmas morning Chef Victor was at the Tavern’s kitchen, preparing holiday dinners for 10 for two large Pantry families. Leftovers lasted the families several days! Starting this Thursday, Chef Victor will collect food for the Pantry from those who gather for Griffin Tavern’s weekly Trivia Night (Thursdays from 8:00 – 9:00.)

Sunnyside Farms continues providing Pantry folks with eggs, greens, and other produce from its hoophouses, despite the cold.  Mimi Delozier is still arranging for periodic milk deliveries. Every recipient wants milk and there is never enough to go around — thank you, Mimi! And Judy de Sarno has brought in several hundred dollars worth of food this winter. One of Judy’s deliveries came in just after the big snow. Judy’s timing was terrific, because the van that restocks the Pantry couldn’t make it out and our shelves were pretty bare.

Sure and isn’t it time again for the Rappahannock Lions’ St. Patrick Day Parade and Celebration on March 13. Plan to march in the parade with other Food Pantry/Plant a Row supporters. Come as you are, or march dressed as farmers, gardeners, vegetables, bags of kibble, loaves of bread, eggs – whatever! We had a great time last year and are sure to this year as well.   The Parade starts at 11:00 in Sperryville and lasts until noon. Please email plantarowrapp@aol.com or call Kathy Eggers at 987-7208 if you can march.

If you like, stay after the parade for Irish food, music, and entertainment at The Link (aka the old Sperryville Schoolhouse). Marching in the Parade is free, of course. Tickets to the lunch are $15 and you can buy them from any Lions Club member or at the Rappahannock National Bank, The Sperryville Corner Store, and Roy Wheeler Realty. Or reserve tickets by emailing Jim Gannon at gannon54@comcast.net .

Flavor Magazine will hold a benefit for the Rappahannock Food Pantry on Saturday, April 24 at The Meadows in Washington, VA, the historic home of John and Beverly Sullivan. This promises to be quite an event — with entertainment by Mark Russell, a wine judging and auction, food from Rappahannock, and more. Tickets are $75 and likely to go fast. We’d like current Pantry volunteers, gardeners and contributors to have first dibs at tickets. For tickets and information: go to www.flavormags.com or email info@flavormags.com or call (540) 987-9299.

Kathy Eggers

Updates

Updates

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!

Updates