Judy Ertel, a longtime Food Shelf Volunteer, became a shopping assistant when the Client Choice program was implemented more than 1-1⁄2 years ago at the Greece Ecumenical Food Shelf. Judy realized a need for cloth shopping bags as most of the shopping assistants who volunteer at the food shelf prefer the reusable bags to plastic or paper bags. Judy likes to sew and she designed a pattern to make the cloth bags. Judy was also able to acquire donated material to make the bags from SewGreen@Rochester. Founded in 2015, the mission of SewGreen@Rochester is to incorporate community, creativity and sustainability in everything they do. SewGreen@Rochester, Inc. is a 501c3 dedicated to rescuing for reuse everything to do with sewing, knitting, crochet, and needlework. So far Judy has made 75 bags for use at the food shelf. Judy also volunteers her time at the Greece Ecumenical Clothing Closet.
The Food Shelf Makes a Difference
Some of the reasons Food Shelf clients gave when asking for help during the month of December 2019 are:
• Housing challenges: rent increased, high utility costs; security deposit to be paid or not yet refunded.
• Income problems: disability or SNAP benefits reduced or late; living only on Social Security benefits; problems getting or renewing benefit certifications.
• Medical concerns: badly disabled, health issues or recent hospitalization; injury from car accident; in drug rehab program; doctor ordered bed rest during pregnancy.
• Difficult family situations: grandparents caring for grandchildren, family members moved in; kids home during school break; victim of abuse; son in prison.
• Employment changes: lost job or work hours reduced; seasonal worker temporarily not working; non-English speaker seeking work.
• Unexpected expenses or loss of resources: house fire; money stolen; appliance failure.
Provided Information and Photo
