In some ways, it is business as usual for Martic Pantry, a nonprofit organization providing food to Martic Township residents who cannot afford it. The pantry typically serves between 15 and 20 households every month by reloading debit cards that can be used exclusively at Martic Store, 561 Martic Heights Drive, Holtwood. Currently, about 15 families are part of the program. Mary Lehman, who co-founded Martic Pantry with her husband, Steve, noted there is some surprise that that number is as low as it is.
"It's been kind of interesting in that we've had a lot of inquiries and people taking applications, but not many of them have been returned," Mary said, adding that she has not learned what might be causing the delay. "I actually expect (application submissions) to increase in the next few weeks and months because I think then people will no longer be getting a paycheck, and as they wait for unemployment to start or for another job, things are going to be even tougher than they are now."
Mary does have one idea for why the number of applications for support have not skyrocketed. "Sometimes, I think when there is a crisis, people really step up - as they should - and help their neighbors and friends," she said. "As time goes on, and when this is past us, that is when life gets even harder for some."
Martic Pantry was created to fill in the gaps, and Mary shared several stories of how the organization has been able to provide emergency food for laid-off workers. "One morning, I had a woman waiting at the door when I opened," Mary related. "She was a single mom with three children who had been laid off from McDonald's and really had no income coming to her for the next several weeks. I was able to give her an emergency pantry card so she could shop for groceries, and she also picked out items from our donated groceries."
The grocery donations come from a local church that serves as the pickup point for the Martic Elementary School SWEEP, a program of Solanco Neighborhood Ministries that provides weekend meals for children in food-insecure households during the school year. The church donates the bags that do not get picked up to the Martic Pantry, where the bags' contents are added to a shelf along with other goods that people have donated. Anyone who needs an item may take from the shelf.
"People have been so generous," Mary commented. "One person who shops regularly at Martic Store handed me a $100 bill. Others have dropped off checks and/or brought food for us to add to our donation shelf. We live in an incredible, supportive community where neighbors want to help neighbors."
Mary noted that financial contributions are most helpful, as they enable cardholders to buy the items their families need, rather than being limited to what foods and toiletries are donated. Information about making a contribution is available on the "Martic Pantry" Facebook page.
Additionally, community members may participate in the Bags 4 My Cause program at the Giant (formerly Musser's) supermarket, 35 Friendly Drive, Quarryville. For every reusable Bags 4 My Cause purchase during the month of April, Giant will make a set donation to Martic Pantry.
"We are doing what we can to help our community," Mary remarked. "At this point, our focus still remains Martic Township; however, in this time of crisis, we are here to help anyone who is hungry. The only way we can survive this crisis is for everyone to work together. Our motto is 'community helping community,' and I truly believe that when this epidemic is over, our community will be even stronger because we all united together to beat this virus."
For more information about Martic Pantry, readers may visit the Facebook page, email marticpantry@gmail.com, or call 717-923-0561.
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