Plenty of Ways to Help Local Food Pantry

Last week, Patch wrote about the recent effort by the Christian Assistance Program to boost donations to its food pantry during the holiday season. 

There are a number of ways the public can help the food pantry this week. 

• Help Pick Up Thanksgiving Turkeys Monday - The pantry is looking for a few strong people to help load frozen turkeys into a truck at the Walmart in Severn. The truck will be there at 9 a.m. Look for the Ace Hardware truck and ask for Charlie Baldridge.
• Help Pack Thanksgiving Baskets - On Monday at 10 a.m., volunteers will pack gift baskets to give to needy families in the area. They will meet at Nichols-Bethel United Methodist Church in Odenton.
• Thanksgiving Yoga Class to Benefit the Pantry - Whole Yoga and Pilates in Odenton is offering a class to the public on Thanksgiving morning, with donations to go to a local food pantry. The "Flow Before the Feast" class will take place Thursday from 9-10:30 a.m. There is no fee for the class, but donations are encouraged.
• Food Drive at Local Mechanic - Environmental Auto Services in Severna Park will have a food drive from now through Dec. 21 and will offer a $10 discount on any service for anyone bringing two cans of food. The shop will also donate two cans of food for any Facebook "like" it receives with the message "donate 2 cans."

The Christian Assistance Program food pantry is supported by 13 churches in west Anne Arundel County, and is open twice weekly at the Severn United Methodist Church. For more information, contact Charlie Baldridge at vkb@comcast.net or Jean McHenry at mchenrysnorth40@verizon.net.