Pantry Patter

Bowie Interfaith Pantry and Emergency Aid Fund

July/August 2017

Pantry Statistics

July 11 Evening Hours 6:00-7:00 p.m.

July 25 Evening Hours 6:00-7:00 p.m.

August 8 Evening Hours 6:00-7:00 p.m.

August 22 Evening Hours 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Sept. 4 Labor Day PANTRY CLOSED

Upcoming Events:

Inside this Issue:

School Supply Collection

Healthy Snack Packs

Volunteer Opportunities

Food Drives/Donations

June 2017

June 2016

May 2016

Households Served 268 305 281

Client Visits 338 385 340

New Client Households 29 25 29

Children Under Age of18 217 271 246

Totes of Groceries 684 784 682

Value of Food Distributed $34,355* $29,140 $26,440

Percent to City of Bowie Residents

49% 49% 45%

Percent to “Bowie Area” Residents

17% 15% 17%

May 2017

244

303

14

173

612

$23,250

44%

23%

Donate Fresh Produce Everyone wants to eat healthier, and we are committed to providing fresh vegetables and fruits to our families. We encourage all local gardeners to bring their “extra” produce to the Pantry. Donations can be dropped off at the pantry M,W, F mornings beginning at 8:00 a.m.—we are open 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

On Sunday mornings, pantry volunteers are at the Bowie Farmers Market (parking lot of Bowie High School) from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon collecting donations of produce as well as money which will be used to purchase vegetables and fruit from the Farmers Market.

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* - includes $30 extra per visit for personal care items

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Our Mission

We are a community-based social services program providing emergency food and financial assistance* to those in Bowie and Prince George’s County, who are experiencing need – without regard to race, creed or gender. If we are unable to meet the needs, we will make referrals to others who may be able to provide the needed assistance.

To serve with respect, dignity and without discrimination those in need in our community by providing food, financial assistance and other resource referrals.

* Financial assistance is only available to residents of the City of Bowie

School Backpack Program

Post-it Notes - all sizes Highlighters Dry erase markers Graph Paper Crayons – 8 and 16 packs 3 X 5 index cards

School is out for the summer, but preparation for the 2017-2018 school year is underway! Most students in Prince George’s County will be back in school on September 5. Last year we distributed 123 backpacks to children Pre-K through Grade 12. Our families provide us with each child’s supply list and we fill them as required. We are now collecting supplies and are most in need of the following:

New backpacks (middle and high school) 3 ring binders (3 inch, 2 inch) – new New 2-Pocket Folders (plastic) Subject Dividers Flash Drives – any size Pocket dictionaries and thesauruses

Copy paper Quart and gallon ziplock bags Paper towels Clorox disinfectant wipes Liquid hand soap

Healthy Snack Packs

This is the 4th year of our Healthy Snack Pack Program. Each child (ages 18 months – 18) will receive a bag of healthy snacks during the month of July. This year we are honored to be the recipient of a grant from No Child Goes Hungry, Inc. to support our program.

It is not too late to participate in this important project. We need donations of the following to continue making bags throughout the month of July:

Mac & Cheese cups

Milk boxes (8 fl. oz. Horizon lowfat)

Individual cups of peanut butter

Individual boxes of cereal

Individual boxes of raisins (1 oz.)

Volunteer Opportunities

We are looking for volunteers for the following:

1. Pick up donations on a weekly basis from ASAP Cleaners (Marketplace) and bring to the Pantry.

2. Sit at our Farmers Market booth on Sunday mornings from 8-10 a.m. or 10 a.m.-12 noon.

3. Pick up donation from Chipotle (Bowie Town Center) on Friday mornings around 8:30 a.m. and bring to the Pantry.

4. Pick up bread from Jersey Mike’s (Hilltop Plaza) on 2nd and 4th Tuesday afternoons around 4:30pm and bring to the Pantry.

Please e-mail the Pantry if you are interested— bowiefoodpantry@gmail.com

Non-Profit Status

The Bowie Interfaith Pantry and Emergency Aid Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 95% of Pantry donations go directly to assist clients. Tax receipts are available for all donations.

Food Drives/Donations All Saints Lutheran Church American Legion Auxiliary Unit 66 Aramark, IMI National Training Center Ascension Catholic Church and St. Vincent DePaul Ministry Ascension Commandery No. 283 Ash2Brown Entertainment, LLC/3 Sassy Ladies Belair Baptist Church Berwyn Rod and Gun Club Beta Sigma Phi Sorority - Xi Alpha Phi Chapter Blue Skys Stable Bowie High School Bowie High School – National Honor Society Bowie High School PTSO Bowie Lions Club Bowie Senior Chorale Charles H. Wesley Lodge No. 147 Christian Community Presbyterian Church The Cleaning Authority Collington Outreach Cresthill Baptist Church Curves of Glenn Dale DPI Specialty Foods Faith Fellowship Church Girl Scout Troop 6417 Girl Scout Troop 6089 Goodloe Memorial Unitarian Universalist Congregation Grace Baptist Church – Grace Gives Grace Lutheran Church Greater Mount Nebo Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Long & Foster Masonic Lodge No. 147 Microsoft Matching Gifts Program Moms Club of Bowie

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Mount Oak United Methodist Church National Association of Letter Carriers Northridge Community Northview Elementary School Prince George’s County Sierra Club Reformed Presbyterian Church Rockledge Elementary School – Aftercare Program St. Barnabas Episcopal Church St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church St. Pius X Catholic Church Springdale Community Church Temple Solel & The Charlie Hochman Fund Trinity Lutheran Church United Parish of Bowie Unity Center of Light Village Baptist Church Weichert Realty Williams Financial Services Corporation

A special thank you to the following who donated food and/or money to the Pantry in May, June and early July:

Many thanks to our garden volunteers who planted vegetables and herbs in early spring. Volunteers continue to weed, water and harvest the produce. Our families are enjoying zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, and herbs.

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Bowie Interfaith Pantry and Emergency Aid Fund 2614 Kenhill Drive, Suite 134 Bowie, MD 20715 Phone: 301-262-6765 E-mail: bowiefoodpantry@gmail.com Website: www.bowiefoodpantry.org

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 a.m.—12:00 noon 2nd & 4th Tuesdays each month 6:00—7:00 p.m. The Pantry is located in the blue building behind the Kenhill Center. Park in the back parking lot and enter through the blue building.

The 2017 NALC Stamp Out Hunger Drive on May 13 yielded the most food ever! Many thanks to the letter carriers from both Bowie Post Offices who collected the food; thanks to everyone in the community who filled a blue bag!

3 Sassy Ladies performed at the BCPA in April. Marilyn Ashford-Brown donated the proceeds to the Pantry in memory of Annette Esterheld and Mary Nusser.

The Murray sisters and

friends celebrated a birthday by creating 11

beautiful diaper cakes for

mothers of newborns.

Members of Girl Scout Troop 6089 held a food drive at Freestate in June. Earlier they collected toothbrushes, toothpaste and

mouthwash for our families. Good work!

Laurel and Gary Cox delivered 129 bags of groceries to the pantry from The Cleaning Authority Cares Summer Food Drive.

Members of “To Be Young and Gifted” from Northview Elementary School collected and donated toiletries. Great job, everyone!