Community gathers to Share the Harvest
Milford. Annual dinner helps meet the needs of the more than 10 percent of Pike County residents who suffer from food insecurity.
Milford /
| 23 Sep 2019 | 03:04
St. Patrick's Hall was filled with the laughter of friends enjoying one another's company. (
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Joe Dooley, who is running for a seat on the Milford Borough board, and his wife, Susan (
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Pike County Commissioner Matt Osterberg and his wife, Carol Osterberg (
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Spoonful Soups & Eats, Apple Valley Family Restaurant, and Laurel Villa Country Inn and Restaurant were among the Milford eateries to contribute favorite dishes. Carmela Montaperto and Diane Grendel are pictured on the left, and Carl Muhlhauser, owner and operator of Laurel Villa, is on the right. (
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Mike Giordano (left) with Junior Dabashi, Key Foods manager (right (
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Nancie Simonet and Darren Fouse of the Waterwheel Cafe (
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Milford Borough President Frank Tarquinio and his wife, Barbara Tarquinio (
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Dawn Dillon (
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The Rev. Van A. Bankston of Good Shepherd Church (center) (
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Guests put their tickets in blue and red cups to win prizes. (
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Guests put their tickets in blue and red cups to win prizes. (
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Local restaurants contributed favorite dishes. (
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Guests put their tickets in blue and red cups to win prizes. (
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Guests at the 12th annual Share the Harvest had dinner with friends while helping people in their community who experience food insecurity.
They dined on favorite foods from Milford restaurants and enjoyed music by Leo B. The proceeds from their tickets, and the 50/50 cash drawing and dozens of other raffles, helped put money in the coffers and food on the shelves of the Ecumenical Food Pantry of Milford. One pantry item donation was enough to win a prize.
The Sept. 17 event at St. Patrick's Hall was organized by Milford Presents (milfordpa.us). It was an opportunity for guests to share fun and laughter while shoring up food supplies in their community.
The Ecumenical Food Pantry, located at 321 5th Street in Milford, is run completely by volunteers. It provides supplemental and emergency groceries and toiletries to Pike County residents who need them.
"Hunger is a reality in our own backyard," says the pantry's web page. "For residents of Pike county, hunger persists with 10.2 percent of the county’s residents experiencing food insecurity. For children, one in five experiences food insecurity. Last year we served over 60,000 pounds of groceries to our families."
The pantry is open every Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and also provides extra supplies for holiday meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Call the pantry at 570-296-8123 or visit goodshepherdmilford.org/ecumenical-food-pantry.
How you can help:
Nonperishable items can be dropped off at the pantry at any time and placed in the large blue containers on the far-right side of the front porch.
Fresh produce and meat are always welcome. The best times are mid-day Thursdays and Fridays when volunteers are working in the pantry.
For large or special donations, call Nancy Potter, the pantry director, at 570-618-1568, or email pikefoodpantry@gmail.com.
Tax-deductible financial donations are always welcome: make checks payable to the Ecumenical Food Pantry of Pike County and mail them to 321 5th St., Milford, PA, 18337.
Donate online goodshepherdmilford.org/ecumenical-food-pantry through the“Donate Now” button.
Volunteers are always needed to pick up and sort donations, distribute food on Friday evenings, help with communications (newsletters, social media). To volunteer call Nancy Potter at 570-618-1568, or email pikefoodpantry@gmail.com.