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Empty Shelves


 Have you seen this picture?


Columbia Community Care food pantry, Long Reach Village Center


It was making the rounds on Facebook yesterday, accompanied by these words:

This is NOT a photo of when we moved the pantry to the Long Reach location. 

THIS is a pic that I took a couple hours ago at the pantry. Every shelf is empty. We desperately need food donations! Donations of both food/supplies as well as money have dropped precipitously, unfortunately. We need all four of these shelf units completely filled every week in order for us to be able to open our three Saturday sites. It takes an enormous amount of food to serve 350 families/1500+ people every week. And what we give out usually is only enough for a couple days because we don't have more than that to share. 

PLEASE, if you are able to, please consider buying extra canned goods (beans, corn, soups, proteins) or packaged food (ramen, cereal, pasta) when you do your grocery shopping.

THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!! This community is so awesome and we treasure each of you for helping us fight food insecurity right here in our county. 

Amazon Wishlist

Drop Off Locations and Link to Donate

Most needed items:


Since Wednesday I have found myself almost paralyzed when it comes to spending money. What will happen to my Social Security? Health care? Any money we have saved for retirement? I don’t know if anyone else has felt that way but I’m guessing those feelings of dread and uncertainty are out there.

The post from Columbia Community Care jolted me out of that mindset and brought me back to this very moment where neighbors are hungry and I can do something about it.

Perceptions of money are a funny thing. For the last several months I have been going to physical therapy twice a week. With my health insurance, the copay is 20 dollars. I am lucky to have that kind of coverage. Still, money is money, and I’ve made other adjustments to compensate. I don’t need that stop at Dunkin or that fun new craft item, not really. I’ll buy the less expensive birdseed for the feeder. Put off the next haircut a bit longer. 

But if you had told me a few months ago that I could afford to, say, donate 40 dollars a week to local charities, I wouldn’t have believed that. Forty dollars a week! That’s one hundred sixty dollars a month! I don’t have that kind of money!

I do, though. I’m spending it right now on physical therapy.

I love fantasizing about all the money I would give away if I won the lottery. But what about the small gifts in the here and now? Why is that such a mental hurdle for me? Why do I think I can’t afford that,or that such small gifts won’t make a difference?

I’m struggling with that right now.


 Village Green/Town² Comments 


*****

Today’s recommendation for Local HoCo is to shop local for Columbia Community Care. 

While you’re thinking about it, check out this local event that supports the mission of CCC: 

Holiday Bash: Bon Bon 2024.




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