Rappahannock Plant A Row

Some folks around here are tilling garden plots. Here’s hoping many Plant a Row gardeners are itching to get back to their gardens and plant a little extra for the Food Pantry. Even in this harsh winter the Pantry offered about 700 lbs. of donated fresh fruit and vegetables – most from Sunnyside Farms.

Catholic Charities of Northern Virginia dropped off about 1300 lbs of food and $400 of supermarket gift cards collected from the churches of the Arlington diocese. This is part of Catholic Charities’ Christ House on Wheels (CHOW) program – a way to help with hunger in the diocese.

Many Rappahannock churches are faithful Pantry supporters but Trinity Episcopal in Washington stands out. Trinity parishioners drop off coffee, tea and other items weekly.

Steve Welch, a Pepperidge Farms employee, stops by the Pantry every Tuesday with yummy baked goods. Pantry recipients are delighted to have the fine bread, bagels, and rolls Steve provides – 1300 lbs worth so far this year!

Thanks to the Rappahannock Lions for their $400 contribution and the Amissville Ruritan Club for its $100 donation. The Sperryville Country Store gave the Pantry a much-needed fourth grocery cart – alleviating some of the back-up at our busiest times.

Food Pantry patrons and donors – and their vehicles – are tickled with the Pantry driveway and parking area repairs – no more potholes, tons more gravel and way less mud! A tip of the hat to landlord Jimmy DeBergh!

We’re excited about the Saturday, April 24 benefit for the Food Pantry – a celebration of food and wine from Rappahannock County at The Meadows in Washington, VA, the historic home of Beverly and John Fox Sullivan. A lamb and pig roast, great Virginia wines as selected by D.C.’s top sommeliers, special guests, including Mark Russell – a fun and tasty way to support the Food Pantry. Tickets cost $75. Call (540) 987-9299 or go to www.flavormags.com to purchase tickets.

The Pantry needs boxes. And there are never enough milk, eggs, butter and cheese for everyone who’d like them – and that’s just about every recipient. Hint, hint!

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

Benefit for the Rappahannock Food Pantry

• wine auction •
• foods from Rappahannock County •
• entertainment by comedian Mark Russell •
• specially selected Virginia wines judged by a panel of wine experts •

Todd Thasher • Partner, Sommelier & Mixologist at Restaurant Eve
Derek Brown • Co-owner, The Passenger & Columbia Room
Gina Cherevani • Mixtress & Sommelier at PS7
Andrew Meyers • Sommelier at City Zen
Scott Calvert • Sommelier at The Inn at Little Washington
Bill Plante • CBS White House correspondent, wine collector and afficionado
John Fox Sullivan • Publisher at Large, Atlantic Media Company
Melissa Harris • Publisher & Founder of Flavor Magazine

The Meadows in Washington, VA, the historic home of Beverly and John Fox Sullivan
Saturday, April 24 • 6:30 pm • $75 per person

Tickets and information: www.flavormags.com • info@flavormags.com • 540-987-9299