Mary Ellen Baker (right), retiring director of the Brockport Food Shelf, received a good-bye gift at a June 27 ceremony from food shelf President Johnnie Lehman.

Mary Ellen Baker, director of the Brockport Ecumenical Food Shelf for the past 10 years, retired June 30. She was honored for her long service at a picnic and presentation ceremony at the home of Bill and Monika Andrews, 46 College Street, on June 27. About 25 members of the food shelf's board of directors, volunteers, and their families attended.

The directorship was originally a volunteer position, but changes and growth in food shelf activities entailed additional responsibilities. Therefore, the board began providing a modest stipend about three years later.

In a retirement interview, Baker commented on the improvement of facilities during her tenure. Shelves were added, a conveyor and a telephone were installed, two additional freezers were acquired. Also, the number of clients served has increased by at least 25 percent and an evening a week was added to the service hours.

She noted as special satisfactions in her work the opportunity to provide emergency help to families whose homes had been destroyed by fires and to become personally acquainted with some of the regular clients. Also, she feels that the addition of Lifetime Assistance clients as volunteers is an example of two service organizations helping one another.

Baker is married with a two-year-old daughter and four grown step-children. During eight years of her tenure she was also employed at a day care center. She chose to retire in order to spend more time with her family.

A search committee is recruiting a replacement. Applications were due by June 30.