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“Feed Darke
County” Food Drive Begins
The Fish Choice Pantry has begun its annual “Feed Darke County” food
drive, which kicked off at the Illumination Festival held at the Darke
County Fairgrounds on September 17. According to Fish Director Kristy
Cutarelli, donations are sorely needed to fill pantry shelves which
have thus far this year served almost 1800 households. “The “Feed Darke
County” initiative was conceived in 2009, and is our only true food
drive during the year; right now, our shelves are getting frighteningly
bare,” Mrs. Cutarelli explained. “The Illumination Festival collection
yielded 311 pounds of canned and packaged food, but much more is needed
so that the organization can continue to meet the needs of the
community it serves,” she stated.
Many churches, clubs, organizations, businesses and individuals donate
regularly to the Choice Pantry. Donations to Fish are welcomed
throughout the year; however, Mrs. Cutarelli says that the success of
the harvest season “Feed Darke County” drive is essential to providing
local families with the help they seek. The Fish Choice Pantry, located
at 400 Markwith Avenue in Greenville, provides a full range of food
items from which clients can choose to meet their nutritional needs for
a few days. Small donations of non-perishables can be left in the
storage container behind the Pantry (access on Thirteenth Street); to
give large donations and perishable items, contact Mrs. Cutarelli at
937-316-8420 or kacuter@gmail.com. In addition to food, cleaning
supplies. paper goods, and personal hygiene products are also
appreciated, as these much-needed items cannot be purchased with food
stamps.
Mrs. Cutarelli says that volunteers are urgently needed, and that those
interested in helping should contact her. The local Fish organization
was formed in 1967 by an ecumenical group with the goal of doing good
by reaching out to neighbors in need. In the intervening decades, Fish
has evolved and changed while still attempting to achieve its mission
of service to others. Fish volunteers have logged almost 1800 hours
working at the Choice Pantry during 2016, while others have served by
retrieving calls to the Fish phone at 548-2000, and making
home-deliveries to those unable to access the Food Pantry. The Fish
Choice Pantry is open Mondays 1 p.m. until 2 p.m., Wednesdays 10 a.m.
to 11 a.m., and Fridays 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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