Archive: Around Town

For the second year the Lansing Community Council has raised more than $10,000 for the Lansing Food Pantry.  The money is used for non-food essential items

"We hope for a positive response," says Lansing Community Council President Ed LaVigne.  "We find need for people and try to rectify it.  We ask for donations for the Lansing Food Pantry.  It's tax deductible.  We suggest different levels, but it can be $10, $25, $50, or $100, or whatever they want to give, which is fine.  Whatever people want to give is the right amount."

The appeal is in the form of a post card sent at the end of the year.  The card asks for non-perishable items and cash.  The non-perishables can be dropped off at the Lansing Town Hall, the Lansing Tops, Lansing Market, and the Lansing United Methodist Church, which houses the food pantry.

Last year the appeal raised over $11,000 for the Food pantry.  So far this year it has raised $10,500.  LaVigne says donations can be made all year 'round by making checks out to the Lansing Food Pantry c/o the Lansing United Methodist Church.

"We wanted something local," LaVigne says.  "There is need all over, but we wanted to sensitize the Lansing community to this need.  It's running well.  They are very good stewards of the money.  They are very frugal and have food, but there are other needs that the Southern Tier Food Pantry can't supply."

The Lansing Food Pantry is manned by volunteers coordinated by Nancy Myers.  Some of the key people include Diane Skroback, Janette Reeves, Mary Searles, and Janet Keefe.  It is opened one Monday per month to provide food and supplies to Lansing residents who are unemployed or whose jobs don't pay enough, whose public assistance isn't enough to feed them, people receiving mental health services, or who are homeless or suffering disabilities, in crisis, senior citizens, or anyone who needs food.  That date is supplemented by visits from the Mobile Food pantry from May through October.

The money purchases non-food essential items aren't paid for by food stamps or WIC (Women, Infants and Children program).  They include things like toothpaste, soap, tooth brushes, toilet paper, personal products, towels, diapers and other such items.

"This is the second one we have done and we plan to do it in the future because we have gotten such a positive response," says LaVigne.  "This is a beautiful thing about the Lansing community.  They give from their hearts.  When someone works hard and someone asks for help the community simply responds in a positive way."

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