BACK MOUNTAIN – Help from the public is needed to restock the shelves at the Back Mountain Food Pantry, lower level of the Trucksville United Methodist Church administration building, across the street from the church. The holiday season increases the demand for food and supplies are down.

It is expected that more than 200 Thanksgiving food orders will be distributed to registered clients and as temperatures fall families and the elderly face food vs. fuel, or food vs. medications. Also, school children will miss meals during the holidays that are normally provided by their school.

Groups or individuals wishing to conduct a food drive during November and December to help with the replenishing of needed food are encouraged to schedule delivery to the food pantry as soon as possible. Call 570-696-2917 to schedule food drives and delivery dates to ensure volunteers are available to receive, sort and organize the food. All food items should carry current dates to ensure their quality and nutritional value.

Monetary donations may be sent to: Back Mountain Food Pantry, c/o Trucksville United Methodist Church, 40 Knob Hill Road, Trucksville, PA 18708. Checks should be made payable to the Back Mountain Food Pantry. The pantry is now an approved 501(c)(3) charity and all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Individuals may drop off smaller amounts of food at Cook’s Pharmacy, Rt. 309, Shavertown; Hilbert’s Tractor Store, Rt. 415, Dallas and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, off Rt. 118, Dallas, during their regular hours of operation.

Suggested nonperishable food items needed are: cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, boxed dried potato mix, canned sweet potatoes, canned gravy, canned fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, pasta, canned evaporated milk, hot chocolate mix, tea, canned hams, tuna fish, peanut butter, jelly, Jell-0, pudding mix, cake mixes, canned frosting, cereal, juice and soup.

The Back Mountain Food Pantry board of directors wish to thank everyone for their support. The service the food pantry provides would not be possible without the generous support of the Back Mountain and surrounding community.