Trevor’s Gift needs the community’s help.
The local backpack program is facing shortages of crucial foods, which help feed kids in the Waterloo community.
“Foodlink, which packs the bags of food we purchase for distribution each week, is facing shortages of its own, and so did not include the cereal and juice in our recent shipment,” said Co-Chair Doris Wolf.
Altogether the program needs 600 boxes of cereal and 600 boxes or pouches of juice to properly fill bags.
“Normally we would purchase the missing items with the generous financial contributions we receive,” said logistics co-chair Coreen Lowry. “But local stores have put limits on what individuals can purchase, and we are not able to buy the quantity we need.”
Last week, Karen Lewis of Waterloo VFW Post 6433 Auxiliary delivered a supply of cereal, granola bars and Sessler Enterprises donated more than 1000 boxes of juice that enabled Trevor’s Gift to fill bags for its latest distribution.
“Our members believe in helping feed our kids and we took up a collection. Our kids are our future,” Lewis said as she delivered the food.
When Lisa Sessler, a member of the Trevor’s Gift team, mentioned the need for juice, Sesslers sprang to the rescue. The company has been a major supporter of the backpack program since its inception.
“In keeping with our company motto, ’Making Good Things Happen,’ the Sessler family and its employees are proud to continue to support Trevor’s Gift,” said company president Jane Shaffer.
Each Trevor’s Gift bag contains fruits, vegetables, protein, cereal and juice to provide food for weekends when children don’t have access to school feeding programs. When children have good nutrition, they are better able to focus, are healthier and have better self esteem.
Trevor’s Gift receives no government funding. It relies on contributions from individuals, businesses, organizations and churches to feed more than 130 children in Waterloo each week. Financial contributions allow Trevor’s Gift to purchase the bags of food from Foodlink and to purchase supplemental food as needed.
In the seven years of Trevor’s Gift, the organization has distributed nearly 70,000 bags of food in the backpacks of children in pre K through grade 12 and homeschooled children. Tax deductible contributions may be sent to Trevor’s Gift c/o Linda Wadhams, treasurer, Main Street Shoppe Center, Waterloo, NY 13165 or Doris Wolf, 1229 Birdsey Road, Waterloo, NY 13165. Food donations may be dropped of at Tractor Supply in Seneca Falls. To arrange for a pickup of food, contact Wolf at 315-246-7580 or Coreen Lowry at 315-719-2430.
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