ASHLAND - The generosity of a local supermarket and its customers is helping the community food pantry in its mission.
Judi Deitrich, manager of the Ashland Boyer's Market, presented $1,800 in gift cards Thursday to the Ashland Area Ministerium for use in conjunction with its food pantry.
The ministerium treasurer, the Rev. Dana Heckman-Beil, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Ashland, and Pam Snyder, who manages the community side of the food pantry, accepted the donation of 72 gift cards at $25 each.
"The food pantry has a community side and a government side," Heckman-Beil said. Some food is through donations or purchases by the ministerium, the rest comes from government surplus programs.
Boyer's has provided the donation to the food pantry in past years, with the amount dependent on what is donated by customers.
"We do a featured item at the register where the customer can donate a dollar or more to the food pantry," Deitrich said. "We did that two weeks before Thanksgiving. What we bring in, Boyer's matches. We brought in $900 in donations from the customers, so Boyer's matched that, bringing the total gift cards to $1,800 for the food pantry."
Dietrich estimated the practice is about 10 years old.
"I've been involved with this for eight years," Heckman-Beil said. "I remember when they were paper certificates that were donated to us."
"The Salvation Army is handing out turkeys and we're getting more government food and food from Berks County," Heckman-Beil said. "So with food in abundance, we will give out cards in January."
They can only be used for food.
"Last month, between government and community food, we served 163 people," Heckman-Beil said. "Folks can get government food every other month and the month they can't get government food they can get community food. And in between, if there is a need, folks are to call the Ashland Area Ministerium and food will be given from the community side."
In addition to Snyder coordinating the community food distribution, Jim Gruber coordinates the government side.
"The bottom line is that we are all in this with one mission - to serve those in need," Heckman-Beil said.