March 26, 2008

Give a Can (or Two) for a Good Cause

Top: P.I.N. is located at 274 N. Sandusky St., just north of the Lincoln Avenue intersection. Bottom: With the supply slowing down after peak holiday times, P.I.N. is hoping to replenish its shelves with food and other items this spring.

A staple in Delaware County for the past 30 years, P.I.N.’s food pantry provided 5,719 people with 50,850 meals in 2007 alone. Requests are up 15 percent over the last year, making this year’s “CAN”paign more important than ever.

“It’s so easy to do—we all have surplus food at home,” says Sue Pasters, director of community service learning at Ohio Wesleyan, who is helping to coordinate the effort on campus. “Cans of soup and tuna we won’t miss, but it’s a huge deal to someone who’s not sure where their next meal is coming from.”

P.I.N. is seeking items including canned meats and fish, cereal, pasta, and dry milk. Non-food items that are not covered by the Food Stamp Program—such as toothpaste, shaving cream, and toilet paper—also are in high demand. Click here to see a full list of P.I.N.’s needed items.

“This is the time of year when the P.I.N. food pantry is bare,” says Pasters, pointing out that the peak times around Christmas and Easter have passed. “It’s going to be a long, hot summer and people still need to eat.”

A good option for students, says Pasters, is collecting unused food points to spend at the end of the semester at the Thomson Corner Store. The points can easily be exchanged for food and non-food items for families in need.

Drop-off points have been set up on campus at the following locations:

• Hamilton-Williams Campus Center atrium (near the Information Desk)
• Beeghly Library (near the main entrance)
• Elliott Hall
• Conrades♦Wetherell Science Center atrium
• Phillips Hall (psychology department office)
• University Hall, lower level (near the mail room)
• Austin Manor

– Ann Marcum