Jefferson students give to food pantry

By ELLEN KOLMAN - Staff Writer - ekolman@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

December 21, 2008 12:52 am

— JEFFERSON — Fifth-grader Morgan Brown was all smiles Thursday as she helped put collected items in a box designated for the Manna Food Pantry, a ministry of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 89 E. Jefferson St.
“This is part of a special districtwide project. We are so grateful,” said Sharon Piper, Manna Food Pantry director. “Jefferson Elementary, Jefferson High School and Rock Creek Elementary have collected items for us this year.”
The Manna Food Pantry began in the 1970s, when all the churches in Jefferson Village consolidated their food pantries into one large pantry at the St. Paul’s location, Piper said.
Because of the current economic climate, Piper said they are seeing three to five new families every time the pantry doors open up.
“We serve needy families from Jefferson, Rock Creek and Dorset,” she said. “Because of the generosity of these schoolchildren and the commitment of the community, we have been able to keep up with the demand. We are blessed here in Jefferson.”
Non-food items are also available at the food pantry.
“Things like toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, laundry soap and toothpaste, needy families cannot buy with food stamps. So we also keep a supply of those items here,” Piper said.
The Manna Food Pantry is open 9 to 11 a.m. Monday to Friday.

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