The Brooklyn volunteers operating the “Groceries for Grout” food drive in mid-November included, from left: Sarah Andrews, Melaney Dittler, Cheryl Crowe, and Kathy Orton.
The Brooklyn volunteers operating the “Groceries for Grout” food drive in mid-November included, from left: Sarah Andrews, Melaney Dittler, Cheryl Crowe, and Kathy Orton.
It’s clear that Brooklyn residents look out for needy neighbors. Following a highly successful sock drive for the homeless – “Sock-tober”, in which over 500 pairs were collected – Brooklynites then set their sights on the Holidays with a “Groceries for Grout” drive on Sunday, November 13th. The event, sponsored by the Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, was to help fill the nearby Grout Elementary School Food Pantry with food and supplies for Thanksgiving and the December holidays. The food program is set up behind Grout School at 3119 S.E. Holgate Boulevard and is offered every Friday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., and everyone who needs food is welcome.
So Brooklyn volunteers, under the leadership of Brooklyn Action Corps neighborhood association officer Melaney Dittler, gathered under the covered area at Brooklyn Park alongside S.E. 10th Avenue from 1 to 3 p.m. on November 13th to accept donations of canned and fresh foods, baking supplies, spices, nuts, paper towels, diapers, and even a few gift certificates to local grocery stores. Dittler was assisted by Kathy Orton, Cheryl Crowe, John Karabaic, and Sarah Andrews.
While waiting for donors to bring their food donations by, volunteers chatted about other Brooklyn news. There was some talk about a program to “adopt a storm drain” during months when fallen leaves clog the street gutters. There was also talk about possibly inviting Brooklyn old-timers for a “story hour” to gather stories for the neighborhood history records.
There was also other conversation about the area. During the Marathon earlier this year, prizes were given out for supportive neighborhoods. BAC cheerers along the route (SE Franklin Street has a particularly steep hill), won a second place award of $500 for urging runners onward. There was also talk about local businesses, and a fund-raising event hosted Noember. 2nd at The Bear Paw Inn that raised $865 for the Summer Park Program.
“Today’s been very productive,” happily remarked Dittler, when the day was done and all the food donations were collected. The volunteers also collected blue donation bags of returnable cans and bottles to support Brooklyn's Summer Park Program, while they were at it. As we said at the beginning, it’s clear that Brooklyn residents look out for needy neighbors!
