This summer the Caring & Sharing Food Pantry received great community support to help stock their shelves and serve more Paulding County residents than ever before.
In June, July and August 2024, the Pantry served 711, 753 and 757 Paulding County residents respectively. “This is more than we have ever served month after month,” said Jodi Schneider, Executive Director. “And we could not do it without financial donations, food drives and dedicated volunteers.”
In early June, Cooper Farms donated 1,700 pounds of turkey roasts for the pantry to share with clients, and again at the end of August, they donated another 750 pounds. Thanks to the Paulding Exempted Village Schools and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Department for helping store the roasts in their freezers.
On July 13, the St. John family raised more than $3,500 at the 4th Annual Scott St. John “Marmaduke” Cruise in. Donations were made by car owners, attendees, Fat Pig Smokehouse and Nini’s Ice Cream.
Another bus trip raised $1,300 carrying 50 Paulding County residents to South Haven, MI. The trip was organized by Ann Olwin, Sue Beck, Kathy Cadwallader and Carol Razo.
The 127 Yard Sale hosted at the First Presbyterian Church of Paulding in early August, raised $4,000 for the pantry for the third year in a row thanks to all donors and organizers Brent Fishbaugh and Carol Razo. The Presbyterians also sponsored a food drive in August that donated hundreds of pounds of food.
Other agencies in the county have gotten involved in helping at the pantry, too. The Ohio State – Paulding County Extension Office started visiting the pantry twice per month to share tastings and recipes with clients. And PC Workshop clients have been volunteering at the pantry regularly to help keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.
Many other donations were also received including from the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Free Christin Church VBS in Continental as well as the Tri-County ADAMHS Board for Mercer, Paulding and Van Wert Counties.
Finally, this summer the pantry received more than 1,900 pounds of fresh produce from area gardeners and growers including Belau Farms and The New Rochester Orchard.
For more information about the pantry, volunteering opportunities and fundraising activities, follow the Caring & Sharing Food Pantry on Facebook. You also can contact the pantry, at (419) 399-9562 or info@caring-and-sharing.org.
