Clarksville Food Pantry

Volunteer Newsletter

February 2024

Clarksville Food Pantry Annual Meeting for Board of Directors, Church, Community Volunteers

and Interested Citizens

Thanks were shared for Jessie Ruff, a founding board member who has served as President for the past three years and will continue her passion as Past President and as a board member; to Inez Ferrer-Arnett, who served as Vice President for the past four years and was the face of the pantry to all new volunteers serving during the COVID years; and to Lee Baldwin, our Produce Patriarch, who ensures we have the freshest produce for our clients at each opening.

We respect you and can't thank each of you enough

for your many years of service and look forward to continuing to

benefit from your expertise for years to come.

A Huge Shout Out and Thank You to

St. John Baptist Church & Mrs. Inez L. Arnett-Ferrer

For many of us Inez was the first voice of the Clarksville Food Pantry when we reached out to volunteer.

Her love for the volunteers and our neighbors in need is contagious!

As she moves on to other missions, Inez leaves us motivated with the following message:

I wish to thank the Food Pantry Board for giving me the opportunity to serve with them for the past 7 years, and for the opportunity to represent my church, St John Baptist Church. I enjoyed working with each and every volunteer. You all will stay in my heart forever. I wish the Food Pantry much success in all that they do, and best wishes for their continued progress for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Inez

2024 Clarksville Food Pantry

Board of Directors

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to illness and happens when white blood cells migrate to a location to help with healing. Studies show that after eating chicken soup these white blood cells behave differently creating an anti-inflammatory action, which reduces that stuffiness in the nose. Gesundheit! Believe it, taste can help with healing! The rich umami taste of chicken soup helps spur appetite that may be suppressed when you are sick. This in turn helps you eat enough to support your immune system’s response to infection.

Studies also suggest that umami triggers our brains to better absorb protein in the digestive tract which may help decrease those pesky GI symptoms that sometimes accompany a cold or flu.

Drinking plenty of fluids is always the advice of the medical community when you have a cold or flu, the water and sodium content of chicken soup helps keep you hydrated and the steam from the hot liquid will help further open that stuffy nose.

As with all things quality matters soups with lots of veggies and herbs are great options! Wishing you good health- spoons up!



Mecklenburg County Public Schools

Offers Breakfast, Lunch and After School Snacks

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) are USDA-assisted meal programs for school-aged children. Through NSLP and SBP, many children impacted by food insecurity are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Some schools in Virginia are able to provide free meals to all students without proof of income through the Community Eligibility Provision. Schools that are unable to provide free meals for all require that families complete applications. Families should check with their school district to determine eligibility and application requirements.

Mecklenburg County Public School is participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the school year 2023-2024.

What does this mean for children attending MCPS? All students enrolled in Mecklenburg County Public Schools are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge for the 2023-2024 school year.

Beginning January 30th, 2024, all elementary school children will be provided after school snacks at no charge on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:00 p.m. For further information, please contact: Robin Moore at (434) 738-6111.

Clarksville Food Pantry

Clarksville Community Center

103 Woodland Drive

Clarksville, VA 23927