Pawling Rotary’s Stuff the Bus 2023 a Community-Wide Success!

July 15th was a day of service and generosity as the Pawling community joined with the PawlingRotary Club and its event partners Hannaford’s, the Pawling Central School District, and the Pawling Resource Center, to Stuff the Bus with items needed for the PRC’s Food Pantry.  The yellow PCSD school bus, manned by Ken Chambers with assists from Cecil Franco and PCSD Transportation Supervisor Pamela Serafini, was parked outside of Hannaford’s on Route 22 in time for the event’s start at 9:00 a.m.  Volunteers Jessica Sisalima and Katelyn Hanol from Pawling High School, Dylan Cohen from Arlington High School, and Katie Giron from Pawling Middle School were on hand at the Resource Center to unload collected items and begin placing them on shelves, aided by Fredrick Brandenberger.

Rotarian and Pawling Library Director Chris Fisher, Rotary President and PRC board member Rev. Stefan Gramenz, and Rotarians Jeff Asher, Carolyn Graziano, Medina Khalil with daughter Lucy Showers and friend Jaxon Carmocino, Deborah Klein, Stephanie McLaughlin with daughter Rebecca, Jillian Pelliccio, Coleen Snow, and Laurie Spens were on hand throughout the event. They were busy answering questions, loading the bus and enthusiastically thanking one and all for their kindness.  Even Carmel Rotarian and Pawling resident Maria Quezada stopped by to help!  Rev. Gramenz was heartened by the good will demonstrated by the participation of everyone involved.  “The community really came out to support the PRC,” he noted.  He concluded, “Some people brought a couple of items, some a couple of bags, and some people an entire shopping cart.  It’s great to see how much can be done when so many people give what they can.  Many thanks to the shoppers who donated, to the Rotarians and other volunteers who handed out flyers and helped sort, transport, and shelve the donations, and to Hannaford for their cooperation and support.”

Additionally, the PRC’s Executive Director Olga Brandenberger and Program Coordinator Brandon Dobraj were equally busy throughout the morning collecting donated items and transporting them to the Center, helping to alleviate the delivery crush at the end of the event day.  Ms. Brandenberger was thrilled by the community response to this annual summer event and all that it will mean for families in need who depend on the PRC Food Pantry.  “The weather was great for Stuff the Bus, but even greater were all the people who came together to make it possible.  We are so grateful to Pawling Rotarians, the staff at Hannaford’s, the PCSD, the many volunteers, and all the community who made donations.  Thank you from all of us at the PRC,” she exclaimed.

Finally, the staff and management at Hannaford Supermarket did a wonderful job coordinating everything at the store in order to make this annual event successful, meaningful, and fun for everyone involved.  Brendan Simmons, Hannaford Manager of Customer Service and Rocco Botta, Hannaford Assistant Manager were especially helpful with organizing everything at the store and designating the PRC as their not-for-profit of the month, so that patrons could make always-needed cash donations.  Joannie Gruber, Hannaford staff member, was also available to help in ways large and small, contributing to the day’s achievement.

Because of the selflessness of everyone involved, including the many community members who contributed, The Pawling Resource Center Food Pantry received 1,519 pounds of food, 75 pounds of cleaning supplies, 73 pounds of paper products, 186 pounds of personal care products, and 50 pounds of baby diapers.  In all, 1,903 pounds of goods were donated during a traditionally slow time for donations to the PRC.  

The Pawling Resource Center serves community members in need.  Donations are always welcome and volunteer drivers are needed.  Contact the Center at 845-855-3459 if you can help.

8th Annual Stuff the Bus on July 15 at Hannaford’s