The motto of Providence Building Supply (PBS), 796 Lancaster Pike, Quarryville, is "PBS ... where building your business is our business." The retailer of hardware, household supplies, paint, pet care products, gardening supplies, power tools, and more is dedicated to meeting contractors' and homeowners' needs, but it aims to meet the needs of a nonprofit as well.
From Monday to Saturday, Nov. 18 to 23, community members are invited to bring specific kinds of nonperishable food items to PBS to fill Thanksgiving meal boxes that will be distributed by Martic Pantry.
The food drive is a first for Martic Pantry, which was launched by Steve and Mary Lehman several years ago. The organization provides qualifying Martic Township residents with preloaded cards that can be used to purchase necessities at Martic Store, 561 Martic Heights Drive, Holtwood. Steve explained that he got the idea after visiting families on behalf of River Corner Mennonite Church. Traditional food bank models do not often offer flexibility in what they can give clients, as he learned one evening. "At one house, they said they had lots of green beans, but their children preferred corn. A few houses down, those children liked green beans, but all they had was corn," Steve related.
Grocery shopping at Martic Store with the equivalent of a debit card gives individuals dignity, Steve said, adding, "They can pick out what they want. They have a sense of pride that they're buying food for their families, and if other people are in the store at the same time, they can (discreetly) use their card."
Martic Pantry typically serves between 15 and 20 households each month, but due to moves and one death, the organization is currently serving 13 clients. The organization plans to distribute 20 Thanksgiving meal boxes, which will include turkeys donated by the Frogtown Foundation and a variety of sides to round out the holiday meal.
"We will include families who have graduated from our program but whom we know a holiday box would lighten their load," Mary said.
Typically, Martic Pantry purchases the box contents - except for the turkeys - using funds raised through four chicken barbecue events. This year will be the first time that a food drive has been held for the occasion.
"We thought it would be a way to give back to the community," said Dawn Ressler of PBS, who credited hardware professionalist Terri Landis for suggesting Martic Pantry as the beneficiary.
To inspire participation in the food drive, PBS will give donors 10% off their purchases, up to $10, during the week of Nov. 18 to 23. Some exclusions will apply. Items that will be accepted for Martic Pantry include canned fruit and vegetables, stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, gravy, brownie and cake mixes, cake frosting, hot chocolate mix, pie filling, pie crust mix or graham cracker-type crusts, and plain or flavored rice.
PBS is open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Readers who have questions about the food drive may contact the store by calling 717-287-5880. Information about PBS is available at http://www.providencebuildingsupply.com.
To learn more about Martic Pantry, readers may email marticpantry@gmail.com or call 717-923-0561. "We encourage people in Martic Township to contact us if they are struggling or know of someone else who could use a helping hand," Mary said.
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