It's time to restock the food pantry shelves

Can you help feed a child, family or an elderly neighbor? An increasing number of families in Sussex County rely on food pantries to make ends meet. Samaritan Inn is asking for the community’s support to help stock their shelves during this increased time of need. Since the program began in 1977, Samaritan Inn has been dedicated to meeting the needs of the homeless and hungry. Samaritan Inn Incorporated, is a non-sectarian, non-profit agency. In 1980, the agency started community case management, a food pantry and shelter program. Grant funds were secured and two multiple-dwelling buildings with a total of nine apartments were purchased. Today these buildings exist anonymously in working class neighborhoods that allow shelter residents to blend into the community. Samaritan Inn’s Family Shelter Apartment Program is the only shelter in the county that allows families to remain at the same location in a private apartment. In this setting clients and their children learn new skills and gain confidence to live independently. Samaritan Inn is presently serving a high number of families and anticipates more in the coming winter months. These families have to rely on food banks to get through some of the roughest months of the year. Samaritan Inn requires assistance to stock their shelves. Volunteers will be out collecting donations at the following locations: Franklin: Wal-Mart and Shop Rite, Sparta: Stop-N-Shop, CVS/Franks Pizza, and, Newton: Shop Rite and Wal-Mart. In addition, numerous Sussex County Retailers have containers in their stores for their shoppers to donate to the food pantry. They include Dunkin Donuts in Franklin; The 7 Eleven, HuNan Wok, Mohawk Gardens, RedShaw Florist, Café Perot, Villa Capri, Anderson Farms, Upper Lake Mohawk Deli and Olive Garden in Sparta; and The Dollar Store and Hampton Diner in Newton. For more information on how you can help, call Samaritan Inn at 973-827-8911.