Wow! A week ago yesterday I posted a story on The Walpolean reporting widespread hunger in the area and the heroic efforts of the Fall Mountain Food Shelf to meet the needs despite diminishing sources of surplus and discounted food. The story then ran in the Eagle Times on Monday.
Food Shelf Director Mary Lou Huffling told me at mid-week that she had gotten a number of gifts of food and that a fistfull of checks had arrived to enable her to buy more. Tonight she reported that the checks and food donations had continued all week and that the Charlestown Middle School students had collected and given nearly 500 cans of food to the Food Shelf. Further, they held a dance Friday evening and raised an additional $400 to add to their gift!
Ms. Huffling also reported that a person who had previously expressed concerns about the Food Shelf's "let no one go away hungry" policy brought a "mother lode" of food on Friday. Also on Friday, two area families told Huffling that they had decided, in lieu of giving gifts within their families this Christmas, to make monetary gifts to the Food Shelf instead. Finaly, Huffling gratefully reported tonight that she had received a $5,000 check from an anonymous Walpole donor that had read the story and wanted to help. "I didn't know whether to cry or to call 911 for my impending coronary," laughed Huffling tonight! "It was an awesome gift, and it will be incredibly helpful over the holidays!"
In further good news, prompted by the Eagle Times story, the Keene Sentinel did a terrific story on the Food Shelf's "Friendly Meals" program in this morning's edition.
The hunger problem remains widespread in our area--and in many others--but generous people from Walpole and the surrounding area have really stepped up this week! Well done! CCB
