By C.J. Carnacchio
Leader Editor
Numbers don’t lie.
And the numbers show that Oxford-Orion FISH is more than fulfilling its mission of ‘Neighbors helping neighbors.?
Last year, the local charity distributed 144,165 pounds of free groceries to an average of 150 households (or 350 individuals) per month.
‘That’s a big ‘wow? factor,? said FISH Treasurer Randy Gower. ‘That’s a lot of food.?
These households made a total of 1,801 visits to FISH’s pantry (487 First St.) in Thomas, an unincorporated community located in northern Oxford Township.
FISH added 92 families to its client base last year.
Given the Oxford/Orion area is relatively well-off, Don Danko, a FISH board member and editor of the group’s newsletter, said people are often surprised by the need for the pantry’s services.
‘There’s a number of people that are in need of help,? he said. ‘Sometimes people forget that.?
‘There’s always somebody that needs help. You just have to look,? said pantry worker Pam Mott, an Oxford resident who’s been volunteering with FISH for four years.
Since 1973, FISH has been providing free emergency groceries to families, individuals and senior citizens, who are living on either a low or fixed income, or have fallen on hard times due to job loss, illness or other personal crisis.
More groceries for clients
FISH’s leadership is quite proud of the fact that last year, the group was able to increase the allotment of groceries its clients receive on a monthly basis.
The allotment of meat was increased by 2 pounds, while the total food allotment was increased by 10 pounds.
As a result, for example, a family of three is now able to receive 100 pounds of food per month including 10 pounds of meat, while a family of four gets 120 pounds of food including 12 pounds of meat.
There are two reasons for the increase.
One is the continued generosity of FISH’s regular donors and the communities it serves.
For example, last year’s food drive through the Oxford and Lake Orion post offices collected 25,050 pounds of food, while FISH’s holiday food drive through the two communities? school systems collected an estimated 20,000 pounds.
‘That’s about a third of what was distributed last year,? said Ron Wood, a FISH board member. ‘It’s just kind of overwhelming the overall support of the community.?
‘Our FISH organization is only as good as its donors. They make us,? said FISH President Laurene Baldwin. ‘We are so blessed to be in this community because people are very giving. We certainly appreciate it.?
The other reason for the increased food allotments is the ability of FISH volunteers to find deals. Whatever food isn’t donated, volunteers must purchase from the grocery store.
‘We’ve gotten better and more efficient at our shopping,? said Sue Black, FISH secretary and pantry worker coordinator.
‘We’re trying to spend our dollars as wisely as possible,? Wood said.
FISH’s primary grocery store is the Oxford Meijer.
FISH receives gift cards through Meijer’s Simply Give program. The program allows customers to purchase $10 donation cards, which are converted to gift cards. Meijer either matches or double-matches each customer’s donation, turning $10 contributions into $20 or $30 donations.
Wood said FISH volunteers then use the gift cards to purchase mostly sale items in order to stretch the dollars ‘as much as possible.?
‘That’s worked out quite well,? he said.
Even with the increased allotments, not every client takes all the food they’re entitled to. Although they don’t have much, they still think of others who may have less.
‘They’ll say, ‘Leave it for somebody else. I have enough for right now.? I find that very heart-warming,? said Lynn Kennis, a FISH board member.
‘They take what they need,? Black said. ‘They aren’t just there to meet a number.?
Wood is proud of the fact that FISH is able to provide its clients with a true shopping experience where they get to pick and choose what they want.
‘At some pantries, they just give them a box (of food) each month,? he said.
‘It’s like a little store (at the FISH pantry),? Kennis said. ‘They get a grocery cart.?
Healthy options
In addition to increasing clients? grocery allotments, FISH has also worked hard to provide healthy choices such as fresh fruit, yogurt, string cheese and fresh vegetables grown in the group’s community garden at 3695 Lakeville Rd.
‘They really seem to appreciate having other options,? Black said.
Kennis recalled a ‘very heartwarming? encounter with a mother whose young daughter had never had fresh raspberries.
‘We were putting them on (the little girl’s) fingers and she was licking them off in delight,? she said. ‘It brought tears to my ideas because something that I take for granted, this little girl never had.?
It’s not just a pantry
Besides disbributing free groceries, FISH was also able to accomplish many other acts of charity and good will last year.
At Easter, the group distributed 114 dinner baskets to feed 285 people.
At Thanksgiving, FISH handled out 208 dinner baskets to clients including 33 that were delivered to senior citizens living at Heritage Place Apartments in Lake Orion. Those senior baskets were provided by Sister Souls, a local nonprofit.
FISH’s backpack program for local students made sure 162 children (from 93 families) were able to start the school year with brand new backpacks filled with school supplies.
The AngelFISH program provided Christmas gifts for 187 children, plus two families adopted by the Oxford-based Acorn Stamping, bringing the total up to 195 individuals.
What does FISH need?
In order for FISH to continue its good works in 2015, the group does need some things.
As always, it could use more volunteers.
Volunteers are needed to work in the FISH office. Tasks include answering phones and scheduling client appointments. Basic computer skills are required.
Volunteers are also needed to work in the pantry, which involves stocking shelves and assisting clients as they shop.
Danko noted that FISH could use someone with information technology (IT) expertise to donate their time and skills.
‘That would be a great benefit if we could find a volunteer who really knows IT,? he said. ‘I think we could give him quite a challenge.?
Adopt a shelf at the pantry
FISH is also looking for more individuals, families, businesses, organizations, churches, sports teams and clubs to participate in its Adopt-a-Shelf program.
Adopting a shelf means being responsible for keeping a particular item in stock.
For instance, the Alexander family, of Brandon Township, has adopted the shelf containing Jell-O products and pudding. Every week, the kids ? Nicholas, 6, William, 8, Andrew, 10, and Caroline, 13 ? take care of the shelf, making sure its stocked, well-organized and attractive.
‘They’ve really taken it on as their own,? said the kids? mother, Rebecca.
Caroline enjoys making the shelf look its best.
‘I wouldn’t want to come and see a messy shelf,? she said. ‘I would want it to look nice and tidy.?
Rebecca said the kids take great care to make sure the shelf is stocked with products the FISH clients want. They basically watch and see what’s popular.
‘They try to put the flavors that people like up there rather than just any old flavor,? she said.
Volunteer fun for the whole family
Once the Alexander kids are done with their shelf, they help out by stocking other shelves and cleaning the pantry.
‘They really take a lot of care when they’re here ? making things look nice, just as nice as it would be for them in the grocery store,? Rebecca said. ‘This is the FISH clients? grocery store and it needs to look nice for them.?
Rebecca likes the fact that volunteering for FISH has become ‘a family thing.?
‘It’s not just my husband and I writing a check,? she said. ‘My husband and I wanted something the kids could connect with.?
Rebecca believes volunteering at the pantry has taught her kids the reality of the world, that there are people who are less fortunate.
‘I think they’ve learned that not everybody lives the way that we live and the way that we live is probably more privileged than many people in our area,? she said.
Rebecca said the first time they toured the pantry, Andrew saw there was only strawberry jelly on the shelf.
‘He said, ‘What if you don’t like strawberry jelly?? I said, ‘When you’re hungry, you’ll take whatever is there,?? she said. ‘His face went white. They finally started to understand.?
‘I like being able to help other people who don’t have as much as we do,? Caroline said.
‘I like to help other people,? Andrew said. ‘It’s better than just sitting around, doing nothing.?
Rebecca likes the fact FISH welcomes volunteers of all ages.
‘It’s great for anyone who’s looking for an opportunity for their whole family (to volunteer) ? even the youngest of kids can come,? she said. ‘It’s a good way to actually put your hands on something and get involved.?
For more information about FISH, please visit www.oxfordorionfish.org or call (248) 628-3933.