Youth Club Collects Food for Local Pantry

A local soccer club took it upon themselves to hold a "food raising" event last Saturday at the Acme in Freehold and finished the day with an impressive return for the Howell Food Pantry.

The U-11 Battle of Monmouth, PAL-Messi team under the direction of Coach Vincent Cafiero and assistant coach Raymond Duffy were only outside the store from 10 a.m. to 2:30 pm. However even in that short period of time they were able to do a world of good for the pantry. Amy Fankhauser, one of the parents on the team said it was a good experience for the squad. "The generous shoppers there helped our boys donate over $700 worth of food to the Howell Food Pantry," she said. 

With the holiday season starting this week the pantry can use help in collecting non perishable food items that will then be distributed to those residents who need it most. The Howell Food Pantry not only gives out food during the holidays, but all year round so donations are always appreciated. 

According to Eileen Lukenda, the director of the food pantry, the items they are particularly low on at this time are things like soups, drinks, cookies and peanut butter and jelly.

For more information on what you can do to help the Howell Food Pantry you can call 732-938-2368. They are open to take collections on Mondays between 9 a.m. and 11. Items can also be dropped off the last Monday of the month in the morning or from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Lukenda said for those that need it, appointments at other times can also be set up for food drops.