Food Pantry Seeks New Volunteer Coordinator

Maureen Germain, who has served as coordinator of The Marcellus Ecumenical Food Pantry for the past 20 years, is retiring at the end of 2024. A mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Marcellus, the food pantry is located at the church has been operating for more than 30 years. This food pantry is critical to Marcellus School District residents, helping 50-100 families each month. 

Are you interested or know someone who might be interested in this volunteer position? This important  leadership position requires the coordinator to: 

    --organize other volunteers

    --work with the treasurer

    --keep records

    --work with the public

    --organize donations

    --order and accept delivery of food from the CNY Food Bank and

    --perform other assorted duties.

Mrs. Germain is committed to helping train the new coordinator. The coordinator's time at the pantry is about four to five hours a week, usually 10 a.m. until noon on Tuesday mornings and a few minutes once or twice during the week to move donated groceries to the pantry. Other trained volunteers stock shelves and assist clients with their selections and documentation during the food pantry's hours. The food pantry is open to the public Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. to noon and the first Tuesday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

The coordinator's training includes taking 23 short but informative basic online courses, including food safety and civil rights. Once a year, the coordinator attends a Food Bank full-day seminar on topics that will enhance his/her  understanding of the Food Bank process, the needs of the people served, governmental procedures through the food bank, and information from other agencies helping clients. 

The CNY Food Bank annually inspects and reviews the facility, its training and processes, and after inspection may make recommendations for improvement. During its most recent annual inspection, the CNY Food Bank highly commended the Marcellus food pantry for being in compliance and having all appropriate training completed and all public notice papers in place. 

If you're comfortable with people, organized, and wish to be of significant help to the people of Marcellus, please contact the Marcellus Presbyterian Church office at 315-673-2201 for more information. Please leave a message on the church answering machine if the secretary is unavailable. Your call will be returned as soon as possible. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Anyone who lives in the Marcellus school district and needs food is welcome to shop the Marcellus Ecumenical Food Pantry located in Marcellus First Presbyterian Church. The church is located at the corner of Main and North streets. The food pantry entry is on North Street.

The pantry is supported by local churches, schools, community, and civic organizations, and the CNY Food Bank, as well as individual donations of money and goods. Donations of non-perishable and non-expired food may be dropped off at the First Presbyterian Church of Marcellus at the North Street entrance.

Food Pantry Hours:

Tuesdays 10:30 – Noon

First Tuesday of the month   6:30 – 7:30PM

If emergency assistance is needed call Marcellus First Presbyterian Church at 315-673-2201.