Brandon Twp.- As the snow melts and spring approaches, green will soon sprout from the earth and the trees. Some local residents are also hoping to see green in jars in the community.
For the third year in a row, an anonymous donor has challenged the community to participate in ‘Sharin? o? the green,? offering to match community donations to the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund food pantry up to $2,000.
‘We live in the most wonderful, terrific community in the world, and we pray that we meet the match,? said Karyn Milligan-Thompson, OCEF president and volunteer coordinator. ‘We’re going into spring and we often get donations at holiday time, but we’re not just here for the holiday distributions. The pantry is open year-round for us to help our clients.?
In 2010, OCEF assisted 290 families, including 995 individuals.
Under ‘Sharin? o? the Green,? if a member of the community makes, for example, a $25 donation to OCEF, the anonymous donor will match it with another $25 donation of their own. The fundraiser received its name because of its proximity to St. Patrick’s Day. Donations eligible to be matched will be accepted through the end of March.
Cash donations for the non-profit organization can be placed in jars marked with shamrocks at local businesses including Brandon Tire, Bueche’s Food World, The Citizen, Clarkston Brandon Community Credit Union, First Impressions, Ken’s Coney and Papa Bella’s. Checks made payable to OCEF may be sent to OCEF, P.O. Box 282, Ortonville, MI 48462. For details call St. Anne Catholic Church at 248-627-3965.
The public is also invited to the next OCEF meeting planned for 6:30 p.m., March 2, at Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church, 48 South St., Ortonville.
‘We are trying to grow our membership,? said Milligan. ‘There are lots of opportunities to help OCEF throughout the year.?