Pantry Paper – NOVEMBER 2010

THANKS TO BROWNIE TROOP #15496 who stocked and decorated beautiful birthday party boxes for the children, who receive food from the Pantry. Also thanks to Julie and Jason Ofman for a food drive in their Calabasas neighborhood on behalf of the Pantry.

PLEASE DROP OFF TOYS at the Pantry by Friday, December 17^th for the holiday toy store December 18^th.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for monthly supermarket food drives. Help is needed Saturday, November 6th at Ralph’s on the north side of Victory west of Fallbrook, and Saturday, November13^th at Albertson’s on the south side of Victory west of Fallbrook. Both consist of two hour shifts, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Call Jeff Albee to sign up for the November 6^th drive (818) 731-7385, Al Trumpler for the 13th (818) 887-9384.

VOLUNTEER NEWS Welcome new volunteers Joni Box, Laurie Davis  and Hannah King and thanks to their trainers Kitty Sarkissian and Helene Winston.

NOW, IT IS EASIER TO SERVE OUR SPANISH-SPEAKING CLIENTS. We have a bilingual registration card in English and Spanish thanks to Benjamin Mejia-Tickner. This will help us continue our long-standing policy of serving income-eligible people, regardless of their limited English proficiency.

RELUCTANT TO ASK THE CLIENTS THEIR INCOME? It is mandatory, since the Pantry gives out food only to those who are under the Federal poverty guideline (see the laminated sheet on the front table). To keep track of this for Food Pantry records, we include income on a registration card for everyone who comes in.

FOOD PANTRY T-SHIRTS ON SALE AT THE PANTRY Medium, Large and Extra Large available for $7 each to help the Pantry.

IF A GROUP DROPS OFF A DONATION, please ask them if they would like to receive a thank you note. If so, pull a donation card from the envelope on the bulletin board, fill it out and sign it. You’ll need to ask their name and address, describe what they donated and MAKE SURE THIS INFORMATION IS LEGIBLE. Then return the card to the envelope, where it well be passed on to a note writer. When someone drops off a personal donation, give them the card to document a charitable deduction.

TRIBUTES For a minimum donation of $5, you can help the Pantry and honor or remember someone. Please send the name of the person you wish to remember/honor and the reason for it, along with your check, to Earl Lewis, 6036 Shirley Ave., Tarzana, CA 91356. Also, please let us thank you by including your name and address.

MEN’S CLOTHING AND SHOES IN SMALL SIZES NEEDED by the Family Rescue Center, a Canoga Park food pantry and clothes closet. The Center is located at the Canoga Park Presbyterian Church, 22103 Vanowen. If interested, please drop off items at the Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

THE WEST VALLEY FOOD PANTRY WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11^TH AND THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25^TH in observance of Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving.

                              SEPTEMBER 2010 STATISTICS

P.O.P. Rescate

TOTAL FAMILIES SERVED             784               547

PEOPLE SERVED: Adults             1,227                974     

                         Children            550 1,307

                                              1,777             2,281

Senior Wednesday, Oct. 6, 175 people got large food bags.