Despite the cold and snowy weather last weekend, The Bread of Life ribbon cutting was moved inside to honor the dedicated work of founder Sherry Haner.
The Bread of Life Food Pantry held an Open House last Sunday at their building long-time referred to as the Coal Barn in Candor. Sherry Haner was the organization’s guest of honor. She was warmly recognized as the organization’s founder, also an encourager, a woman with inner strength to complete worthwhile work she truly believes in. The opening ceremony and ribbon cutting was hosted by the Director of Bread of Life Food Pantry, Linda Wintermute and Board of Directors President, Dave Nichols.
Volunteers were recognized and thanked for keeping this organization running smoothly. These volunteers help with multiple areas of a food pantry’s needs. Some drive to Ithaca to pick up food donations from Friendship Donations located in Ithaca, while others meet and greet those vehicles upon return to Candor to help unload provisions and stock shelves for the weekly food distribution.
Ladies from the local New Quilters on the Block quilting group came to honor Bread of Life founder Sherry Haner at last weekend’s Open House event.
There are groups of friends that like the fellowship of working in teams, but it was obvious to those in attendance at the Open House that these volunteers are all happy to be spending time with each other working on such a needed charity in their own community. During the recognition ceremony, Wintermute said that because of Sherry Haner’s love of this organization, a family exists within Bread of Life due to her example of selfless volunteerism.
The Open House tours were very informative. The building itself has a set of railroad tracks still running thru their second floor. This building is often referred to as the Coal Barn. Its history includes being home to the Cavatio brothers’ Candor Farm Equipment, Bob Ellis’ Auction House, Practice gym for the Peewee Wrestling Organization, and since 2007, the Bread of Life Food Pantry.
Many references to hard work and great effort were used to describe the work that early founders put into securing this building for their pantry location. Starting a 501c3 is no easy matter, but credit was given once again to Sherry Haner for standing strong.
Sherry Haner shares a moment with a volunteer to remember a beloved volunteer, Frederick Quinlan, who passed away earlier in February.
She said that she experienced hard times in the beginning, even questioning if this was truly God’s desire for her. Haner related that she asked her husband what he thought and he assured her that it was her calling and the proof was that it didn’t cost them anything.
The volunteers in attendance all got a good laugh out of his comment. It seems every one knows that non-profits run on a good steady supply of volunteers willing to spend time, effort, and personal resources to get a job done.
The current Board of Directors includes members Dave Nichols, Robin Beebe, Jane Maas and Gretchen Husinga. With support from the board and volunteers, Director
Wintermute works diligently on securing grants for funding building improvement needs. In 2014, grant dollars paid for a new heating system, new windows for the front of the building, and a cooler and a walk-in freezer.
The volunteers listed at the end of this article did more than stock shelves and distribute 121,025.75 lbs. of food in 2014. Annually, The Bread of Life Pantry
Honoree Sherry Haner, founder of The Bread of Life Food Pantry is surrounded by her family at the organization’s Open House held last week.
hosts an Easter Egg Hunt for the young children in Candor; they purchase turkeys for Thanksgiving, and hams for New Years and Easter.
They co-sponsor Toys for Tots with Sam Cornwell and The American Legion of Candor. They collect and distribute warm winter clothes to those in need, host a coat drive and there is the ever present collection of children’s book at the pantry that children are welcome to take home.
The pantry is always on the lookout for new volunteers and invites anyone interested in volunteering to stop by for a chat and a look around. This year the group is hoping to secure funds for new front and side doors and they desperately need a truck for picking up the weekly food supplies in Ithaca, making client deliveries and for the transporting of items for yearly pantry events and fundraisers.
All donations are tax deductable as this is a non-profit organization.
Bread of Life volunteers include Linda Wintermute, Nancy Haner, Jane Maas, Dave and Bev Nichols, Nancy King, Jayne and Don Kemp, Violet and Everett
The Open House last weekend was led by Bread of Life Director Linda Wintermute and Board President Dave Nichols.
Swansbrough, Rose and Ralph Adams, John Dent, Vic and Rachel Tucker, Danielle Ingram, Don Schoneman, Fred and Rita Quinlan, Joe Morrison, James Smith, Dick Zavatto, Jay Lynch, Kevin Williams, Arthur Lundgren, Jimmie Wintermute, representatives from the Latter Day Saints on Montrose Turnpike in Owego, and ladies from New Quilters on the Block from Candor.
Bread of Life Ministry is located at 1 Water St. in Candor, N.Y., and they are open on Wednesday from 3 to 5:30 p.m.
You can contact the pantry by calling (607) 659-3949
