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Claudia Fleckenstein & Ellie Murphy Recognized as Town of Porter Citizens of the Year
by ccraneClaudia Fleckenstein and Ellie Murphy have been chosen
by Supervisor, Merton Wiepert and Town Council as the 2017 Town of Porter
Citizens of the Year. This year, two recipients were chosen because of
their unwavering support and volunteer hours given to the Care-n-Share Food
pantry that serves our local community. As
residents of the Town of Porter, Ellie and Claudia realized that poverty
extends outside of city locations and there was a growing need in the rural
areas close to home.
The Care-n-Share Food Pantry in Ransomville started in
2010 at the Ransomville Free Methodist Church in cooperation with the Food Bank
of WNY. The pantry was located at the church for a few years before it required
a larger space to help the increasing number of families in need of services and
moved to the current location at 3628 Ransomville Road in 2015.
Ellie Murphy has been a mainstay of the organization from the beginning and
leads the operations of the pantry. She remembers every face and name and likes
getting to know those who utilize the services the pantry provides. Ellie
devotes countless hours behind the scenes at the pantry during the week taking
care of the many details.
Claudia Fleckenstein signed up to volunteer through a
program at Niagara University, originally dedicating one to two Saturdays per
month, it wasn't long before she was recruited to serve on the Board of
Directors. For the past five years Claudia has spearheaded the Ransomville
Festival of Wreaths, including the celebration of the event's 25th
anniversary.
Claudia and Ellie are members of the Board of
Inter-Community Services, Inc., the 501 (c) (3) organization that oversees Care-n-Share
Food Pantry. The Board which they emphasized
is a "working" board is filled with civic minded individuals who all volunteer
with the pantry and take the lead for other services provided such as the
annual school supply giveaway and holiday baskets.
The pantry provides food for those who qualify in Ransomville,
Sanborn, Youngstown and Lewiston. As a "choice" pantry, clients choose the
groceries and items that are needed based on their family size. Ellie enjoys offering suggestions for meals
and has thoughtfully prepared recipes based on the food items that are delivered
that week. Claudia and Ellie take great
pride in making sure all feel comfortable when coming in for food. They stress that volunteers are always needed
and welcomed. The first qualification is
that they have to be friendly! A high level
of confidentiality is also important. Volunteers are needed to stock shelves,
as well as work during the days the pantry is open, and collect donations. As
the summer season approaches, help is also needed to collect donations every
Tuesday in Lewiston before the Art Park concerts. Monetary and non-expired food
donations are always welcome (mail to Inter-Community Services, P.O. Box 401,
Ransomville, NY 14131). More information can be found at www.carensharefoodpantry.com or by calling (716) 245-0631.
The Food Bank of WNY provides the pantry with food at
a much lower cost. Care-n-Share orders
food from the Food Bank twice a month, in addition it receives a monthly
distribution of food from the USDA.
Bread is donated weekly by the Lewiston TOPS and donations come in from
various food drives and individuals. One
Saturday each month the pantry hosts the Food Bank's Mobile Food Pantry which
offers a variety of fresh produce, meat and other items and anyone who lives in
the community can participate in this monthly distribution. Care-n-Share is also the beneficiary of the
annual local "Stamp Out Hunger" campaign with food collection through the
Lewiston branch of the USPA. Regular supporters of the pantry include our
neighbor: The Porter Empty Return Center;
the Boy Scouts of Lewiston; The Niagara River Region Chamber of
Commerce; The Lewiston Town Hall employees; Town of Porter; Town of Cambria; Lewiston-Porter
Schools; local businesses like DiMino's Tops Markets, Summit Pediatrics, Guard
Contracting; local organizations; churches and many individuals.
The Town of Porter is
appreciative of the work of the entire board , but in particular honors these
two Town of Porter residents, who put forth such an outstanding effort to make
sure that those in need in their community are assisted.
The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, Supervisor Merton Wiepert and the
Town of Porter fellow Councilmen are proud to honor Claudia Fleckenstein and
Ellie Murphy as the Town of Porter Citizens of the Year.
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