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Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2848 collected $1,500, which was matched by a national VFW grant, so on April 5th the Tillamook Junior High Food Pantry Coordinator Carol Abrogous was presented with a $1,500 check. VFW members have been volunteering at the food pantry and identified the need for additional funding. Carol Abrogoua, the Tillamook Junior High Family Resource Center Coordinator expressed her extreme gratitude to the VFW post for the donation and for the support.
“Our Post supports and is working to expand healthy food choices to food insecure Junior high students,” explained VFW member Paul Ferris. “Our goals are to expand healthy food sources locally from that pantry and teach students who experience food insecurity and how to plan and make better foods for themselves and their families. Our VFW is focused on ways of improving our community. Better food is a good start. This is one of the best things we can do, it’s kind, and benefits our community.”
VFW members Brad Charlson, John Reaksecker, Paul Ferris and Post Commander Donavan Goff joined Carol Abrogoua at the Junior High Food Pantry for a tour and planning session on April 5th. Post Commander Donovan Goff said that he had been unaware of the food pantry program before but that he was immediately taken with Ferris’ idea as well as seeing the great need. “It’s a great opportunity that we were missing out on. Now we are discovering all kinds of ways we can help, and engage with students,” Goff said.
The pantry serves 120 students and offers “store-style” pantry access twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 4 p.m. Students visit the pantry and can shop for the items. This teaches the students shopping skills and provides positive reinforcement for making healthy food choices. “The students get very excited to pick out special things for family members and the feeling of contributing to the health of the family,” explained Abrogous, “I often hear ‘oh my dad is really going to like that.’ Students also need help and guidance on what to do with certain items,” she explained. “I’ll use the VFW funds to supplement our pantry staples with local produce, eggs and meat from Josi Farms and Lance’s Farm Vittles, and other local farms,” added Carol. Pantries are staffed with bilingual volunteers and Abrogoua opens the pantries as needed for students facing emergencies.
The pantries receive shelf-stable and culturally appropriate items from the Oregon Food Bank. When asked what other items could the pantry use more of, Abrogoua said, “We can always use more peanut butter, more local eggs, and any types of protein,” she continued, “hygiene items are always needed, too.”
“We’re just happy to bring visibility to these valuable services and resources,” said Paul Ferris. “It’s a great cause and children are the future.”
For more information about the food pantries available throughout Tillamook County here is the most recent list from the Oregon Food Bank – Tillamook Services.
Find out more about the events and activities of VFW Post 2848 at https://vfwpost2848.org/
