Donations From All Over Help Those in Need

The list of new donors to the Harrison Food Pantry this week is remarkably longer than usual, and it's a cause for celebration for a program that supports so many with so little.

It's been a difficult year for the Harrison Food Pantry. Although the approaching holiday season will likely provide some short-term relief, the program that supports about 100 families with donations from the community had one month ago.

But when the community heard about the issue, the response was overwhelming. Eighteen families made donations to the Harrison Food Pantry this week. Donations ranged from $10 to $2,500. Donors were from all parts of town.

In total, the pantry accepted more than $6,500 this week.

Although with more than 300 people to support the money won't last forever, Director of Community Services Nina Marraccini said the donations are an enormous help.

"We'll take help from anybody and everybody," she said.

Donors this week included 10-year-old Jules Schwartz, a fifth grade student at Harrison Avenue Elementary and her cousin Jessica, who during Great to Live in Harrison weekend to raise $191 for the pantry.

In response to the when a tsunami that hit Japan earlier this year, the Harrison Japanese Community held a canned food drive to help the pantry in early October. Six local Japanese families followed that up with donations this week.

As even more donations trickled in this week, Marraccini said she was thankful for the support, especially in a time when so many local families are struggling to get by.

"It's people you would never expect (who need the help)," she said. "People have come in that would usually give."

Hopefully those that can still give keep giving.