Pantry coordinator Maureen recently shared this wonderful story:

“Elizabeth has been coming to the NEEDS pantry for quite a while. She’s a busy woman, volunteering regularly and raising her two granddaughters. She used to come for groceries and tote them home in a stroller. But recently, she acquired a three-wheel bike that enables her to carry more. She’s always cheerful and friendly, and often offers to help pantry volunteers with their tasks.

In talking about her family, Elizabeth told us that she’s one of 12 children. Imagine being part of such a large family! One day when she arrived, she told us that her mother had just passed. She told a few family stories and said how much she missed her mom.

Elizabeth hardly expected to inherit anything, but found that her mother had left her some money. She immediately came to the pantry and said that she wanted to give a gift to NEEDS with some of her inheritance, as we had helped her get through some hard times. Imagine our surprise when Elizabeth pulled up on her bike and gave us a very generous check in support of NEEDS!

The expression ‘paying it forward’ can sound trendy and nice. But when someone who’s known need gives with gratitude and generosity, it adds a truly special meaning to the expression.

Thank you SO much, Elizabeth!”

Pantry coordinator Maureen recently shared this story about our friends in Madeira:

“Madeira High School’s Key Club and its advisor, Julie Leugers, are loyal benefactors of the NEEDS pantry. But this year, they really ramped up their efforts. The Key Club invited not only the high school, but the middle and elementary schools, and the community at large, to celebrate Homecoming by donating to the pantry. Julie tied the drive to the school’s September 22 Service Day, and scheduled a school bus to bring the donations and six students to help sort, date, and shelve all donated items.

Traffic stopped in our NEEDS drive-through as active teens unloaded the bus and got to work. The students not only processed the donations they brought – they dated items in storage, prepped plastic bags for our packers, and reset all the tables used for their work.

Youthful energy, combined with the generosity of the students’ family and friends, resulted in a major gift to our pantry – which had suffered our usual summer drought in donations.

A hearty thank you to Julie Leugers – advisor extraordinaire – and the Madeira High School Key Club!”