EXCEPTIONAL WEEK

This week was a special one for the Cedar Key Food Pantry.   Both the USDA and the Bread of the Mighty supplied an amazing array of goods to the Pantry. Pantry Director Sue Colson said, “This week is not the norm; this week is a wonderful bonanza!”

Families received a series of healthy items. One bagful contained pears, mixed nuts, whole wheat bread, raisins, spaghetti, and dried fruit. Another bag contained fresh red peppers, zucchini, corn, potatoes, apples, and onions. Still another held cereal, rice, and popcorn. From the refrigerators and freezers, families received chicken, milk, cheese, strawberries, or blueberries.  Also, from the refrigerators came salad bags containing fresh lettuce, dressing, cucumbers, and croutons.

The Pantry receives different amounts of different foods; the Pantry does not simply receive 70 loaves of bread for 70 families.  Quantities differ. Food Pantry Director Sue Colson reported that, “Not every family receives the same items. When we have distributed all the strawberries, for example, the next families will receive blueberries. When the berries are gone, the berries are gone. We serve until there is no more.” She further explained, “We’ve done well thus far. We’ve been able to distribute foods to everyone in need.”

BROCCOLI BILLY GREENS

Those who remember the recently deceased Broccoli Billy, William Robinson, will be pleased to know that his greenhouses on State Road 24, near the Dollar General, are being well tended and continuing to produce greens. In true community spirit, the greens were delivered to the Pantry; the Pantry distributed them.

BAGS NEEDED

“This week, we needed plastic or paper bags so that we could prepackage goods for families,” explained Colson. “In other times, individuals could enter a room, take goods from a shelf, and tote it to their cars.”  Now with the coronavirus about, prepackaging has become a necessity. Now, clients drive up, staff checks them in, volunteers, with the help of a cart, bring the prepackaged food to the client’s trunk, and       off the clients go.  No mingling or interaction occurs; prepackaging eliminates that.

So, bags are essential for prepackaging goods. Colson put out an all call for bags and get them, she did. Pre-used plastic bags and paper bags cam aplenty.  Colson continues to need bags.

VOLUNTEERS

The labor-intensive part of distribution occurs the day before distribution day, Tuesdays.  All bulk items are then off loaded from trucks, temporarily stored in bulk, then separated, and placed into manageable bags to deliver to clients’ trunks.

Cedar Key School teen volunteers and other volunteers spent these Tuesdays before the distribution sorting and filling bags.  Many return on Wednesday to help distribute.  

SANITIZING

Each space at the Pantry contains masks, gloves, sanitizer, Clorox wipes for staff use.

HUGE THANK YOU

“A huge thank you" to our volunteers and bag donators! Exclaims Colson. “We couldn’t do it without you!”                                                                                                           

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