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Weekly meals for neighbors in need in Scranton

Help keep a free food pantry open for neighbors in need in Scranton.

🇺🇸 United States1,302 views
Ming Xiao
Email verifiedPhoto verified
Scranton
Since 2019, our volunteer team has run the Harvest Pantry every Thursday from the back of a school canteen. We started with 21 families, and now we feed 189 each week. Donations have dropped by about 51% this winter, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 19 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Scranton market and keep every receipt. Each $45 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 $1,650 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $720 • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $410 • Baby formula and diapers: $330 • Refrigeration and electricity: $190 Ask me anything below before you decide. I'd rather you were sure.
#food-pantry#hunger#volunteer-led#food

Updates from Ming

  1. Thank you all. We're at 62% now ($1,030). I'm honestly stunned. we've started the first stage.

  2. We're at 51% thanks to 14 of you. we've started the first stage. More news soon.

  3. Thank you all. We're at 45% now ($736). I'm honestly stunned. we've booked the dates and paid the deposit.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Anonymous 🇹🇷 · $250
  • Madeline Ford 🇺🇸 · $250

    “Rooting for you! - New York”

  • Mateus Enzo Prado 🇧🇷 · $100
  • Lia Kirana Permana 🇮🇩 · $100
  • Dayo Lucky Lasisi 🇳🇬 · $70.50

    “My sister told me about this one. - Abuja”

  • Praveen J. Namboothiri 🇮🇳 · $61

    “Every little bit. Thought of Ming all day after reading this.”

  • Anonymous 🇷🇺 · $54

    “Rooting for you. Hope the June deadline works out. - Moscow”

  • Erlangga Reza Nasution 🇮🇩 · $52

    “God bless. My mother told me about this one. - Jakarta Selatan”

  • Jacques M. Mthembu 🇿🇦 · $50
  • Patricia H. Salvador 🇵🇭 · $50

    “Hope this helps. From Quezon City with love. - Quezon City”

  • Bruno C. Moreno 🇺🇸 · $50
  • Szymon Łukasz Kowalczyk 🇵🇱 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $50
  • Bolaji Ebuka Uzor 🇳🇬 · $50

    “Wishing you the best. Thought of Ming all day after reading this. - Lagos”

  • Angel D. Tillman 🇬🇧 · $48

    “Hope this helps! - Sheffield”

  • Regina G. Villalobos 🇲🇽 · $32

    “Hope it all works out. Only $32 but hope it helps.”

  • Robert M. McCoy 🇺🇸 · $30
  • Smit S. Sheth 🇮🇳 · $25

    “Stay strong. Thought of Ming all day after reading this. - Nagpur”

  • Dinesh Ramesh Dangol 🇳🇵 · $25

    “Take care of yourselves. Gave what I could this week. - Biratnagar”

  • Jorge Henrique Santana 🇧🇷 · $25

    “Rooting for you. Only $25 but hope it helps. - São Paulo”

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  • Garba Bello QuadriQuestion

    Is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Ming.

    • Ming XiaoOwnerAnswerPhoto verified

      Sure. The biggest one is rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale), $720. The rest is in the list at the bottom of the post and I'll upload receipts as I pay each one. Thanks for asking.

  • Chloe J. LunaID verified

    It takes guts to ask. Well done. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. Love from Abuja.

    • Sadia Afshan Yousafzai

      take care, Ming. Shared this with my family. Love from Seongnam.

      • Yasir Zeeshan Baig

        best of luck. More neighborhoods should do this. I'm in teaching myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you. Thinking of Scranton.

        • Derek P. Bowers

          You're not alone. Your post was clear and honest. Sent it to 29 people at work. Take care.

          $1,714.50 raised of $1,650

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