The blizzard and unprecedented snowfall that continues to come down has presented challenges for all of us. For some, it has been a serious inconvenience and for others it has presented critical problems such as those needed to get to medical treatments. The effects of this storm on folks who rely on an hourly wage and unable to work are often devastating. Many of our people live paycheck-to-paycheck and losing a week’s pay or more will be hard to recover from. Not only are folks not able to make an income, but also will have increased energy costs and other expenses because of this storm. The impact is not just immediate but the ripple effect on people’s lives will continue for many weeks to come.
We can do something to help. It is an important time to support local organizations that provide food and emergency assistance. In our neighborhood, one organization stands out, the HWRMW pantry, an ecumenical effort located at Hampden United Methodist Church at 3449 Falls Road. The Community School will be collecting food and donations to give to this pantry and would like your help.
Greg Little, a volunteer tutor at our school, helps staff the pantry along with a variety of volunteers. Next Thursday, February 18th at 5:00, he will take whatever food and donations we have collected over to the pantry for distribution. You can send tax deductible donations to the school for them. They should be made out to The Community School with pantry written in the memo. You can also donate food items, especially: cereal, tuna, canned or dry soups, beans, and peanut butter. You can drop these items off at the school anytime through the 18th.
If you need emergency assistance the pantry gives bags of food out to anyone who comes to the church on Wednesday mornings from 9-12. There is also limited emergency assistance available as funds permit. They also help process applications for energy assistance and referrals for other kinds of help. The pantry serves residents from zip codes 21211 and 21209 and you need to bring proof of address.
Times of crisis often bring out the best in us. It’s been wonderful to see neighbors out working together to shovel the snow, digging out each other’s cars, and clearing the walks of elders. The snow piles are huge and obvious, but some of the problems it causes are not so visible and the desperation behind closed doors can’t always be seen. Let’s all do what we can.
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