Feed the Need

Greene food pantry collaborates with BankSouth for donation drive

  • L-R: Greene County Food Pantry Chairman Steve Ruzika, Michelle Perry, and Rick Perry took part in organizing item donations during the Tuesday morning event. CONTRIBUTED
    L-R: Greene County Food Pantry Chairman Steve Ruzika, Michelle Perry, and Rick Perry took part in organizing item donations during the Tuesday morning event. CONTRIBUTED
  • Greene County Food Pantry volunteers were on hand to answer questions Tuesday during the BankSouth event. CONTRIBUTED
    Greene County Food Pantry volunteers were on hand to answer questions Tuesday during the BankSouth event. CONTRIBUTED

    Greene food pantry collaborates with BankSouth for donation drive

    Greene County Food Pantry hosted its “Feed the Need” Food Drive June 9 in collaboration with BankSouth at its Greensboro location. The local nonprofit organization hosted the event for the second year in a row, but for the first time with the financial business.

    GCFP volunteer and board member Nancy DiSpirito said she was very happy with the event’s turnout, with 1,500 pounds of shelf-stable, canned, and dry goods. The nonprofit has also received more than $25,000 in donations since the event.

    “We were very pleased with the turnout, and started advertising the event in May, and different groups and neighbors started [donating] early,” DiSpirito said. “Some provided items and donations in advance, a couple of food drives will continue through June.”

    DiSpirito said the event took place in May of last year at Reynolds’ Real Estate Building. She noted that while it was a convenient location, BankSouth was more visible in the public space.

    She added the committee decided to collaborate with BankSouth because of its involvement in the community through various events. She emphasized the bank also was a major contributor to the Tuesday morning event.

    “Bank South has been a strong supporter of the Food Pantry, and their location is highly visible for community events,” DiSpirito said. “Not only did they provide the space and promote the event to their customers, but they also donated $400 and gave $80 to each employee to donate how they saw fit, either food or financial donations.”

    According to DiSpirito, GCFP serves about 600 families each month, with 60 percent of the households including children and senior citizens. She noted this year was the nonprofit’s largest increase in the number of families enrolled since the organization began 18 years ago.

    DiSpirito said the event was necessary for several reasons, and that the summer season is one of their slowest for donations and food drives.

    “I hope we make continued awareness of the need in our area,” she said. “This event was particularly important with Federal summer SNAP being defunded, and that decision hurts the majority of our school-aged kids in Greensboro.

    Overall, with the success of the recent event, DiSpirito said the community has been very supportive in their donation efforts. She added that she hopes the nonprofit can continue the efforts, as many do not realize the organization depends heavily on donations.

    “We live in a generous community, and people want to help,” DiSpirito said. “Costs are up for everyone, and the food pantry does not receive state or federal funding; We operate solely through private donations of our community.”