To The Editor:
The Berlin Community Food Closet would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to all who responded to our recent plea for help. When an article appeared in The Eastwick Press a few weeks ago we had little money available to purchase food or help with utility bills this winter. Many individuals and institutions in the valley responded with generous gifts. We now have enough money on hand to supply those in need with food this winter and to help at least a few families with emergency fuel oil assistance.
Some who donated were unaware of the Food Closet’s work. The Berlin Community Food Closet was formed over ten years ago to help supply the needy in our community with food. Clients are provided with a three-day supply of food, based on the size of the family, on the 28th of each month (or by appointment). They are also given a voucher which can be redeemed for bread, eggs, milk and margarine at local stores. The Berlin Community Food Closet is housed at Maxson Fellowship Hall at 47 North Main Street in Berlin. It is sponsored by the United Methodist, First Baptist, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Baptist Churches of Berlin. Individuals and organizations in our community also provide extensive support for the ministry.
The Food Closet also provides emergency fuel assistance to those who are in danger of running out of fuel. We work with Eagle Energy to provide 125 gallons of fuel, often on the same day it is requested, to those in need. Given the expense of this program each family is eligible for assistance just once each year. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and only if other assistance programs, such as HEAP, have been exhausted. The Food Closet has also helped the needy and working poor in the valley with help for electricity bills, car repair, medical expenses and other expenses when funds are available.
The Berlin Community Food Closet accepts donations of food, but cash donations will stretch your gift much farther. We are a member of the Food Bank of Northeastern New York and thus are able to purchase food from them for as little as ten cents per pound. The same fifty cents used to purchase a can of green beans at your local store will purchase as much as five pounds of green beans from the Food Bank. With the help of the Food Bank we are also able to supply diapers to our clients when they are available. These salvage diapers, which generally suffer from no defect other than an open or torn package, are also purchased from the Food Bank by the pound. The same is true of baby wipes, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other paper products. Such items are very expensive, and we are always happy when we are able to supply them to our clients. If you would like to tour the food closet or have other questions about this charity, please call Pastor Matt Olson at 658-2868.
If you donated, again, our sincere thanks to you. If you still wish to donate any gift you give, large or small, will be used to help the needy in Berlin to be well fed and warm this winter. Gifts may be sent to the Berlin Community Food Closet, P.O. Box 284, Berlin, NY, 12022. Make checks payable to the Berlin Community Food Closet.