Girl Scouts Help Fill Food Pantry Shelves In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A Long Valley-based Girl Scout troop helped the local food pantry in a big way.

Washington Township's Daisy Troop 98513 started a donation drive to benefit the Long Valley Community Assistance Program and Food Pantry, earning them a "Certificate of Appreciation" from the pantry.

The Long Valley Food Pantry serves over 70 families and functions as both a food pantry and an emergency fund. They rely heavily on community and local business donations of food and money.

According to officials, many people are surprised to learn that there is a need for food assistance in the Long Valley area; however, the New Jersey Department of Health reports that more than 30,000 food-insecure families live in Morris County.

Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for everyone in the household.

"First-year Daisy Troop 98513 collected what I'm guesstimating to be a couple of thousand dollars worth of food and pantry supplies for the Long Valley Food Pantry. Very proud of our troop. These little girls are just five years old," Regina LaCaruba told Patch.

The food pantry is located at 39 Bartley Road in Long Valley. This service is provided free of charge to all Long Valley residents and churchgoers. Their emergency fund exists to assist their members with a one-time critical financial need.

According to Laura Winters, LVCAP Director and President, the food pantry could still use the following items:

• Jelly - Grape and Strawberry
• Snack bars of any kinds
• Cookies
• Crackers
• Canned Fruit
• Cup of Noodles (Chicken)
• Feminine Pads
• Pancake Syrup
• Sugar
• Juice
• Bottled Water
• Laundry Detergent
• Vegetable Oil
• Olive Oil
• Mayonnaise
• Rice (2lbs)
• Hormel Complete Meals (microwaveable)
• Pasta Sauce
• Canned Chicken
• Quaker Old Fashioned Oats (in canister)
• Coffee (No K-Cups)
• Paper Towels
• Toilet Paper
• Tissues
• Cleaning Supplies

All donations can be brought to the Long Valley Presbyterian Church on Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The food pantry is open for shopping at the church from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Mondays.