Please visit our website at www.sandalwoodfoodpantry.com to make a donation!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Sock Hop!


Thanks to the Junior Girl Scout from Bluffton Troops 224, 247 & 772 and leader, Sue Barry, for the sock hop that provided new socks for every child! The Sandalwood Community Food Pantry provides food and basic needs but most of all love, to anyone in need, especially the children.

From One Child to Many Children!


The children come to the Pantry every week emptied handed until an apple or orange is placed in their hands. But thanks to the love of Daniel and Debbie Cort, every child received a Christmas gift in loving memory of Olivia Cluster, who passed away 11 days before her 5th Birthday, July 11, 2010.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Massage Envy Continues to Comfort!


Special thanks go out to Scott and Crystal, owners of Massage Envy in Bluffton! They had heard about our clients at The Sandalwood Community Food Pantry and wanted to extend their services and desire to offer comfort to those unable to ever even fathom receiving a relaxing massage. So they filled my jeep up with over 150 sets of fresh lavender scent white sheets that were given out to each family this past week. This was one of the greatest gifts and one of great needs met for our clients. They send many thanks to Massage Envy!!!!

Sandalwood Pantry's Soup-Stew Server!


2 weeks ago I received a call from Jan, asking if she could cook for our clients? I was touched by her desire to not just come to the pantry and stack, unload, distribute or organize clothes, but to cook and serve our clients. Two weeks have passed and our client and volunteers have enjoyed, home made chili, pea soup and the most delicious stew! This week it will be deli sandwiches! Yet one more gift and blessings that continues to pour into our pantry! Thanks Jan!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

News!

Sandalwood Pantry is delighted to introduce a great man and volunteer for our cause! Mitchell Tennison

I am a former Navy SEAL of ten years and have yearned to hike the Appalachian Trail since I discovered long distance hiking years ago. I will be setting the record for an UNASSISTED trek of the 2,175 miles that the trail covers from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine. I'm doing this for many reasons but mainly to raise money for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Sandalwood Food Pantry on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. I have been sponsored by Outside Hilton Head, a local outfitter that I personally compare to a small version of REI. If you are ever on Hilton Head you must check them out. They'll have everything you need for your outdoor adventures.

There are three ways to donate and I've made it very simple. First, if you would like to donate directly to my efforts, keeping in mind that without a certain amount of donations it will be extremely difficult to pull this off. You may send a check or money order in my name to;

PO Box 23242 Hilton Head Island, SC. 29925

If you would like to donate to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, go to; www.missingkids.com and click on donate, click the online donation button and in the IN HONOR OF box simply write AT Hike.

If you would like to donate to the Sandalwood Food Pantry, go to www.sandalwoodfoodpantry.com and make sure you write the AT Hike in the IN HONOR OF box.

For any questions, comments or words of encouragement feel free to email me at mitch.tennison@live.com.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Every Member in Ministry

Filling a need for people in her community has been the lifelong work of Vicky Hunnings. A retired nurse practitioner, Vicky now dedicates her time to organizing and volunteering at the Sandalwood Community Food Bank to help solve the problem of hunger in our community.

The food bank is now supported by FPC’s Local Missions Ministry and volunteers from the church, includ-

ing Pastor Sam Martin; Skip Bitler, who is completing the 501 C(3) application and is the organization’s new

treasurer; Chris Sanders, who is looking for a new site for the food bank; Dan Mullin and Terry Truax, regular volunteers; FPC’s youth fellowship; Jackie Wilhelm; Vicky and many others.

The food bank was organized two years ago by the Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson to help residents in Sandal-

wood Terrace, a local public housing apartment complex. “I met Nannette at the first task force meeting on hunger and homelessness at Congregation Beth Yam and wanted to learn more about her program, so I

started volunteering at the pantry,” Vicky said. “The first time I was there I felt I’d found a soul sister, one who was doing remarkable things on a very limited budget and impacting hundreds of lives. I had to get involved and I’m thrilled that the church has chosen to do the same.”

The food bank is located in temporary space in a garage behind the building at 31 Mathews Drive. The food bank receives donated food from Second Helpings and purchases canned goods inexpensively from the USDA warehouse in Yemassee. “Many people do not understand the depth of hunger and homelessness on Hilton Head Island,” she added. People patiently wait in line to receive food, traveling by bike or on foot; many are mothers pushing strollers. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds and often have health issues, including diabetes and hypoglycemia.

At that first task force meeting at Congregation Beth Yam, the group decided to explore a backpack program for children in need in the local schools to provide them with food to take home because for many, the only meal they eat is the school lunch. These are children who return to homes where the cup-

boards are bare and there is no food in the refrigerator.

The second group has organized a committee to explore the current homeless situation on the island. Vicky has a strong interest in helping people who are homeless and has done extensive research about the need and possible solutions. A published author of mysteries set in the Lowcountry, Vicky evaluated the

hours she was spending on writing and decided they would be better used helping people in need. “The food pantry is a wonderful, rewarding experience. It makes you feel like you’re really doing something to help others,” she said. When her two grandchildren visited, she took them to the food bank, which was an eye-opening experience for them. She feels that it is never too early to learn about helping others.

At FPC, Vicky has been a deacon, Stephen Minister and Stephen Leader, is an overnight volunteer for Family Promise and member of the Women’s Spiritual Exercise Group. Vicky has discovered her passion is hunger and homelessness, and she hopes other people will find and follow their own pas-

sion to get involved and make a difference – whether with this or any other area of need in the community.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering or learning more about the food bank or the task force on homelessness may call Vicky at 681-5332, or visit the food bank’s Web site at www.sandalwoodfoodbank.com.

“In Matthew, Jesus said ‘What you do for the least of these you do for me,’ ” Vicky said. “That’s the philosophy I try to live my life by.”

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Wonderful News!

On July 22, 2010 The Sandalwood Community Food Pantry was informed that upon review the IRS has determined we are exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code! Contributions are now deductible!