Slim pickin’s at food pantry

Community resource calls for help to fill the shelves

By SANDY LONG

NARROWSBURG, NY — “When she got there, the cupboard was bare.” Or almost. In a scene reminiscent of Old Mother Hubbard when she went to fetch her dog a bone, Barbara Drollinger recently found herself faced with nearly empty shelves at the Narrowsburg Ecumenical Food Pantry that she operates from the basement of St. Francis Xavier Church in Narrowsburg.

“We’re here to help,” said Drollinger, “But we need some help right now.” Drollinger said that during the six years she’s run the food pantry, the community has always come through, and she fully expects this to happen again. “Our community is very generous. They probably just need to know that our supplies are down,” she said.

Though based in the Catholic church, the ecumenical food pantry receives donations from the local Lutheran, Methodist and Unitarian churches as well.

For the past three years, Drollinger has also operated the St. Francis Xavier Outreach Program, which addresses other community needs, such as providing back-to-school supplies or assisting with fuel and electric bills. The programs are currently helping 33 families in need of support, and all services are confidential.

Currently, donations of non-perishable items are needed. The food pantry is particularly in need of fruit juice, cereal, tuna fish, rice, evaporated or dry milk, macaroni and cheese, soup, stew, pasta and canned vegetables and fruits. Please check expiration dates on all items. The food pantry can not accept donations of expired food.

Items can be dropped off at the church on Bridge Street between 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, or make a monetary contribution and let Drollinger or treasurer Eileen Hennessy do the shopping since they know what is needed. Volunteers are also sought for a variety of tasks.

For more information or to volunteer, call Drollinger at 845/252-3224 or Hennessy at 845/252-3568. Donations can be made payable to the Narrowsburg Ecumenical Food Pantry and mailed to Hennessy at 295 Mohn Road, Narrowsburg, NY 12764.