By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@verizon.net
Caroline showed herself once again a caring, generous county in a charitable community outpouring last week that filled the Social Services Emergency Food Pantry.
"We have enough to last over a month," said Social Work Cheryl Alsop.
A front-page article in the June 5 Caroline Progress, "Food Pantry shelves bare," alerted citizens and businesses, prompting a quick benevolent response, said Cynthia Green, director of Social Services.
"We are grateful and thankful. But we do want people to know it's an ongoing need. This will be gone again soon. People don't realize how fast it goes down," Green said.
Both freezers at the pantry were full of hamburger, cheese, bolgna and hot dogs. The shelves lining the pantry walls were full of canned goods. And down the hall, the big backup pantry was near full. More groceries were in bags and boxes on the floor waiting to be put up.
The emergency pantry is intended for those who have run short of grocery money and are facing hunger. Lately, the need has grown acute with the cost of gas hitting $4 –diesel even higher – and food costs rising rapidly.
The list of contributors is a long one.
Caroline Schools organized, with Kim Haislop coordinating the effort, and between all six schools they filled a pickup truck and van to take to Social Services.
Also bringing groceries was Pastor Bill Duganne of Bowling Green Baptist and Third Mount Zion, which donates food regularly. Another regular contributor who came in is a "Mr. Parnell" from St. Peters in Port Royal.
Kenny Kidwell brought food too, as did Charlie Stunkall of the Port Royal Ruritans. Lisa Cheek, Steve Holt and Jeannie Ball from Concord Baptist also donated food.
Ketterman's Garage and Sabrina Southworth brought Food Lion gift certificates.
Century 21 Classic Real Estate gave five box-fulls.
One man who wished to be anonymous brought six bags.
And Linda Sealy of Crown Homes took Cynthia Green shopping at the Walmart in Massaponax and filled to the rims four grocery carts.
Green reminisced about a contributor who was near legendary – Curtis Washington, a paraplegic who up until his death August 8, 2006, gave $300 a month. He was "a regular," as Green likes to call them.
"I've had so many people call and come by," said Green. "The community has responded in a great way.
"We've had people who probably didn't have a lot and they came forward to share."