The island-wide annual food drive to stock the shelves of the Hatteras Island Food Pantry is now in progress. Housed at the United Methodist Church in Buxton, this is the only food pantry on the island, and it serves the needs of all seven villages.

Visitors, as well as residents, are encouraged to participate in this community outreach, and this year it’s easier than ever with several convenient drop-off locations. They are:

•    Hatteras Realty in Hatteras village, Avon, and Waves (Monday - Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
•    Our Lady of the Seas Catholic Church Social Hall in Buxton (anytime – please leave donations by the front doors) and Our Lady of the Seas Catholic Church (before and after church services)
•    Frisco Shopping Center in Frisco (open daily)
•    Post Office in Rodanthe (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - noon and 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. - noon)

Walton Fulcher, Food Pantry coordinator, applauds the success of last year’s drive.  Because of the generous support of both residents and visitors, he said, the pantry helped 376 people with more than 15,700 meals ($30,000 value).  The pantry also disbursed $39,250 to 80 families with emergency needs that social service agencies do not address.

Fulcher emphasizes that 100 percent of monetary donations goes to help islanders.  None is used to pay "administrative expenses or executive salaries."  He also wishes to remind everyone, "Our greatest period of need occurs during the winter months."  Hurricanes further increase the demands placed on the pantry.

Food items always in high demand are cooking oil, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, grated cheese, pancake mix, maple syrup, cereal, non-fat dry milk, sugar, flour, biscuit mix, shortening, salt and pepper, and canned meats, and canned tuna fish.

When considering what to donate to the drive, think "complete meals." For example, if you donate spaghetti, include jars of sauce and cans of grated cheese. Team up peanut butter with jelly, cereal with non-fat dry milk and sugar.

Please donate only unopened food items and those that have not gone past their expiration dates.

The pantry’s stock of personal care products and cleaning supplies runs out very quickly. Shampoo, shaving cream, bath soap, deodorant, toothpaste, dish detergent, and laundry supplies are always needed.

If you don’t have time to shop, monetary donations are gratefully accepted. Checks can be made payable to United Methodist Men and mailed to Hatteras Island Food Pantry, PO Box 1591, Buxton, NC 27920. Your donation is tax deductible.

If you have a commercial establishment that you would like added to the list of drop-off locations or would like more information, please contact food drive organizer, Linda Browning, at (252) 995-3662.