A group of Oxford and Orion township officials toured the Oxford-Orion FISH food pantry on March 3 to learn what this local nonprofit does, who it serves and what it needs to continue its mission of helping others.

Since 1973, FISH has been providing free emergency groceries to families, individuals and senior citizens, who are living on low or fixed incomes, or have fallen on hard times due to job loss, illness or other personal crisis.

FISH serves the residents of Oxford, Orion and Addison townships along with a small portion of Oakland Township.

Last year, the organization distributed a total of 183,287 pounds of food to an average of 165 households (or 382 individuals) per month.

Community food drives and regular contributions from individuals and families keep the pantry’s shelves well-stocked with nonperishable items.

“We are just so blessed to be in this area. The folks are just wonderful,” said FISH President Laurene Baldwin.

FISH also has an Adopt-A-Shelf program through which individuals, families, churches, community groups, businesses and anyone else can take on the responsibility of keeping a pantry shelf stocked with a particular product.

The adopters can either purchase the products, deliver them and stock the shelves themselves or donate about $100 per month to have FISH volunteers do it for them.

“We have 15 shelves that are adopted out,” said FISH volunteer Julie Howald.

It’s not just the haves who are generous to FISH. The have-nots are more than willing to help others.

Baldwin recalled a number of instances when FISH clients left with less food than they were entitled to. When asked if they were sure they had enough, she said they replied, “We have plenty. Save it for somebody else that’s in more need than I am.”

“It’s wonderful to see that they’re so kind,” Baldwin said.

In addition to supplying its clients with groceries on a monthly basis last year, FISH also provided Easter dinner baskets to 130 families, Thanksgiving dinner baskets to 159 families, Christmas gifts to 154 children and backpacks filled with school supplies to 212 local students.

As a result of the pantry tour, local officials started discussing ways they can work together to secure whatever FISH needs using their various contacts and resources in their respective communities.

For example, one of the things high on the FISH priority list is getting a dumbwaiter built to make it easier to bring food up from the stockroom in the basement to the shelves on the main floor, where clients shop. Some officials seemed keen to help make this a reality.

Participating in the tour from Oxford Township were Supervisor Bill Dunn and Trustee Jack Curtis, and from Orion Township were Supervisor Chris Barnett, Treasurer Donni Steele, Clerk Penny Shults and trustees Mike Flood and Brian Birney.