Brandon Twp.-Three township residents called Karyn Milligan within the space of a week earlier this month, seeking emergency assistance with food.
The Ortonville Community Emergency Fund food pantry director was stunned to learn that the desperate residents had lived in the area for a very long time and had been in need, but didn’t seek help earlier because they didn’t think they would qualify for assistance.
One thought she couldn’t get food because she had no driver’s license, only a Michigan identification card. Another believed she was ineligible because although her children attend Brandon schools, she has a Clarkston mailing address. A third was told by a friend that OCEF only gives out food twice a year,at Thanksgiving and Christmas. All were mistaken, and all were able to go home from the pantry with food to feed their families.
‘I would like to really expand on the fact that we are the Ortonville COMMUNITY Emergency Fund,? stressed Milligan. ‘The word ’emergency? is also important. We are never going to let anyone go hungry in our district. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call me. I would be more than happy to get you taken care of, I don’t want anyone to go hungry.?
All residents living within the Brandon School District boundaries are eligible to come to the OCEF food pantry once a month if they meet the HUD guidelines for poverty, which is determined according to income and changes based on number of people that income supports.
Besides sponsoring monthly visits to the food pantry, OCEF also has holiday distributions and while they are most known for assisting families at Thanksgiving and Christmas, the non-profit organization is currently gearing up for the Easter distribution, which is always the most difficult distribution to fulfill, Milligan said, as many of the regular donors to OCEF are on vacation or are not back from Florida, where they stay for the winter.
If you would like to help meet the need, OCEF is seeking the following food donations for the Easter distribution: canned soup; green beans; canned fruit; muffin/quick bread mix; macaroni and cheese; corn; other canned vegetables; potatoes/yams; Jell-O/pudding; cake mix and frosting; candy; and $25 Bueche’s gift cards (to purchase meat and fresh items).
OCEF will help nearly 200 families with food for Easter and spring break. All donations for this distribution are needed by noon, March 20, at St. Anne Church, 825 S. Ortonville Road. If you would like to volunteer to sort and pack food bags for the distribution, contact Karen Kubik, volunteer coordinator, at 248-627-3965, ext. 102 or email ocef@churchofstanne.org.
‘I want the community to also know, our pantry is supported not just by one church, but by the community, other churches, schools, businesses and individual donations? all help keep the pantry going,? said Milligan. ‘We are a small community and we do our best to take care of people here in our community.?