Community Pantry: keep the shelves full this winter

Since 2022, our volunteer team has run Community Pantry every Sunday from the back of a borrowed garage. We started with 9 families, and now we feed 238 each week. Donations have dropped by about 50% this winter, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 11 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Kinondoni market and keep every receipt. Each $5 feeds a family of four for a week. All of the funds go to groceries, fresh produce, and cold-storage costs. Where the $350 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $220 • Refrigeration and electricity: $45 • Baby formula and diapers: $85 I never thought I'd be the one asking, and I'm grateful for every bit of support.