Food Drives Support Hope Food Pantry

Did you know that, according to Feeding Westchester’s Community Needs Assessment (2021, 2023) and Federal Poverty Level source…

• 2 in 5 households at risk of hunger in Westchester
• 66 percent said a food pantry is their main source of food
• 44 percent skipped a meal because of not enough food
• 50 percent worried they and their family won’t have enough to eat
• 20-30 percent increase in mobile food pantry visits since March, due to COVID SNAP benefit’s ending

The Woman’s Club of Larchmont, Inc. is helping to address this shocking need in our area by collecting food and needed items for Hope Food Pantry not only during our monthly membership meetings but also on Saturday Community Collection Days when members of the Philanthropy Committee give up 3 Saturdays between 9-11 to work. Donations are then driven to New Rochelle’s Hope Food Pantry at St. Gabriel’s school where volunteers sort and bag. With the WCL banner waving in the background to publicize WCL efforts to address food insecurity, a car is parked on the corner of Larchmont Avenue and Forest Park Avenue, and has attracted new members who want to help.

Thanks to the generosity of our members and friends at the Club’s May membership meeting Gerry Gerace and Carolyn Gallaher collected over 127 food items along with 6 packages of diapers (numbering 320 diapers). On Community Collection Day on June 1, Zsuzsanna Baan-Jonas, Sarah Anne Baan Jonas, Gerry Gerace and Georgia Jesse filled their car trunk with 142 food items which included13 packages of items such as pet food, toilet paper, baby wipes and 9 packages of needed diapers totaling 267 diapers. In addition the May and June drives received $50 in donations allowing Hope to purchase items not donated.

The objectives of WCL are “fellowship, philanthropy and service and to promote an interest in literature, education, fine arts and study of topics of public interest.” Membership is open to both interested men and woman in our community. We hope you will join us when meetings resume in September. For membership information please contact Theresa Fanelli at theresa777@mindspring.com

Carolyn Gallaher, Director & Chair, WCL Philanthropy