Palmyra Food pantry gets jump on holidays

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by Patty Cheffey

While it’s still several weeks away from Christmas and the holiday season, the Palmyra Food Pantry is hoping to get a jump on things.

Last week the food pantry barrels and buckets were distributed with the hopes, according to Sharon Wommack, of getting out there before other organizations.

“What we collect stays in Palmyra,” said Wommack noting the organization receives no help from other Christmas toy programs. “So we have already started putting the barrels out in the stores to try to get ahead of the game.”

Penny Knochel also distributed the cash donation buckets to various stores last week, including County Market, Dollar General, El Nopal, Breadeaux Pizza, Happy China, Agri-Med and Palmyra Spectator.

While the barrels are for collecting toys and new or good used coats, the buckets are for cash donations with cash collected almost every week.

Not only will cash be used to help purchase gifts for the food pantry’s Christmas Store, but it is also used to purchase the turkey’s the food pantry gives away at both Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Because of how many families the food pantry is serving and need is greater around the holidays, Knochel noted the Christmas Store is in need of many items.

“The girls always like the arts and craft kits,” she said, noting the store is also hoping to collect Squishmallows and other squeezable pillows, which girls also seem to like. “We don’t need any stuffed animals this year, though.”

Legos, which Knochel admits are expensive, are also a popular item with the boys as are race car tracks, robots and remote control items.

“We can always use basketballs and footballs and games,” she added.

“The older kids, especially the boys, are the most difficult to buy for,” Knochel said, noting that while the boys might take some of the bath and body items, those usually don’t go over very well. “Sometimes cash donations are the best because we can go out and buy what we need.”

Gifts for toddlers, and dolls, tractors and trucks are also popular items.

The Christmas Store, which is strictly for children, will be open Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 during the food pantry’s regular hours of 3 to 5:30 p.m.

While the store is just for kids, Knochel noted the food pantry will have some kind of small Christmas gift for adults too this year, although those will be given out sooner.