Brandon Twp.- St. Patrick’s Day is coming and one local resident is hoping other community members feel like ‘sharing the green.?
An anonymous citizen is challenging others to donate to the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund. This person will match all donations up to a total of $2,000 between Feb. 21-March 17.
‘This donor wants to do a matching grant or a challenge,? said OCEF Treasurer Margaret Lee. ‘For example, if someone in the community donates $50 to OCEF, this person will match it by another $50 donation to OCEF. That’s called leverage. He or she is doubling your donation dollars. We’re calling it the sharing of the green.?
OCEF, which services families in need within the Brandon School District boundaries, currently has about 100 families (350 individuals) per month visiting the food pantry. The numbers have been increasing for the last several years. In 2008, the food pantry assisted 280 families, including 928 individuals, all from within the Brandon School District. That number includes 421 children.
‘It’s a miracle we are still able to do it,? Lee said. ‘They really appreciate it.?
OCEF, a coalition of community churches and based out of St. Anne Catholic Church, is funded by both monetary and food donations from individuals and businesses. Donations reach their peak around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but typically fall off the rest of the year. OCEF uses cash donations to purchase food from Gleaners Food Bank at a discount, as well as gift cards to Bueche’s and Cook’s Farm Dairy.
‘Everyone really stepped up at the holidays and we had some larger donations and came out well-equipped to start the new year,? said Lee. ‘Most of our donations are in the fall, which I suspect is why the donor is doing this now. We will do our Easter distribution April 6. I sweat bullets hoping we have enough money.?
OCEF makes a point of not turning away anyone seeking help and families can visit the pantry once a month, picking up about a week’s worth of groceries. A recent order by OCEF from Gleaner’s Food Bank cost $4,200 and will last the food pantry about 6-8 weeks.