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Feed 177 families each week at the Second Helping in Saint Petersburg

The the Second Helping pantry in Saint Petersburg is running low just as demand rises; $350 will stock it for 7 weeks.

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Olga Nina Makarov
Email verified
Saint Petersburg
Since 2022, our volunteer team has run the Second Helping every Friday from the back of the parish hall. We started with 21 families, and now we feed 177 each week. Donations have dropped by about 37% this harvest gap, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 8 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Saint Petersburg market and keep every receipt. Each $15 feeds a family of four for a week. I'll post the weekly shopping receipts and a photo of the shelves each Sunday. Where the $350 goes: • Baby formula and diapers: $130 • Refrigeration and electricity: $55 • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $165 Thank you so much. - Olga

Updates from Olga

  1. Thank you all. We're at 7% now ($26). I'm honestly stunned. the plan for refrigeration and electricity is now scheduled.

  • Iulian Octavian Constantin 🇷🇴 · $10

    “Best of luck. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - București”

  • Alamin Nahid Alam 🇧🇩 · $20

    “Hope it all works out. Hope you get the rest soon. - Jessore”

  • Tài Khang Tong 🇺🇸 · $6

    “Thinking of you. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Laredo”

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  • Stay strong, Olga. Shared it with a few friends. I hope September is when things finally get easier. All the best

    • Dante P. VelascoQuestionPhoto verified

      is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Olga

      • Baby formula and diapers is $130 of it. Everything else is listed in the story and nothing outside that list comes out of this page. Thanks for looking so closely.

    • Sending good thoughts. It takes guts to ask. Well done. After 9 years in public service I know how hard it's to ask for anything

      • Shared it with a few friends. Wish I lived closer to Bonny so I could bring a meal. Love from Edmonton.

        • Stay strong, Olga. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. All the best.

          • Luna ThorntonAddress verified

            hope things get better soon. This could happen to any of us. Please keep us posted

            • So sorry you're going through this, Olga. It takes guts to ask. Well done. My late mom used to say help given quietly counts double

              • You're not alone, Olga. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. My neighbor in Santa Rosa donated after I showed her your page

                • thinking of you. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it. Thinking of Saint Petersburg.

                  • Wishing you the best, Olga. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Don't give up.

                    • shared this with my family. Greetings from Lagos.

                      • Ana T. VillalobosPhoto verified

                        Wishing you peace, Olga. This could happen to any of us.

                        • you're not alone, Olga. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Sent it to 10 people at work. All the best.

                          • You're not alone, Olga. More neighborhoods should do this. Don't give up!

                            $36 raised of $350

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