By Shelby Stewart
Staff Writer
The annual Sharin’ O’ the Green fundraiser is arriving soon.
The fundraiser, which runs through March, benefits the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund, has another anonymous donor this year, who will match up to $3,000 in donations in the spirit of Roger Duval, who founded Sharin’ O’ the Green in 2009. Duval passed in 2013.
This time of year is slow, says OCEF director Karyn Milligan, and this year they are trying to feed 185 families in the Brandon School district for Easter. This time of year, many of the regular donors to OCEF are wintering in southern states, the deluge of holiday donations from Thanksgiving and Christmas have been depleted, and donations have not yet arrived for the Easter distribution. Adding to the trouble this year and last is a lack of volunteers, and thus cancellation of one of OCEF’s biggest annual fundraisers, the September rummage sale. On average, it costs about $8,000 to keep the pantry stocked with food for these families
Donation jars will be out within the next week at The Citizen’s office, 12 South Street; Papa Bella’s Pizza, 425 Mill St.; Ken’s Coney Island, 100 S. Ortonville Road; and Bueche’s Food World, 400 N. Ortonville Road.
Checks can also be sent to PO box 282, Ortonville MI 48462 and made out to OCEF with ‘Sharin’ O’ the Green’ in the memo line. Donations can also be made via Paypal at www.oceffoodpantry.org.