The lights that illuminate the plaza of Olde Pickerington Village represent more than just a festive way to decorate the city. The Plaza of Lights is the largest fundraiser for the PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington, and each donation to the pantry brightens the lives of residents throughout the year.
“The Plaza of Lights is our largest fundraiser, and without a successful campaign, our ability to provide services to our clients throughout the year will suffer,” said Conor Neville, director of development for PCMA. “Our mission of ‘Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope’ rings true throughout the year, but is often magnified during the holiday season, when people may need a little boost more than they would the rest of the year.”
As of Sept. 30, the pantry had served more than 103,000 meals to more than 1,250 households in the Pickerington Local School District.
Over the holidays, the pantry is not only busy providing residents with meals, it is helping to place food on the tables of Pickerington families on Thanksgiving and Christmas by distributing full baskets to anyone who signs up.
“The need for PCMA Food Pantry services is greater this year than in the past, and due to continuing economic difficulties, we expect it to continue to rise,” Neville said. “One thing that people often do not realize about the food pantry is that we have a diverse clientele – families that have fallen on hard times, people with health issues that prevent them from working, and senior citizens on a fixed income, just to name a few. Every little bit that we get helps these people out, giving them hope and a little relief, which is even more important aroun
d the holidays.”
Donations to help brighten the city and the lives of Pickerington families can be mailed to the PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington at P.O. Box 914, Pickerington.
Each donation to the pantry is tax-deductible.
Nonperishable food itemss can be dropped off at the pantry, which is located at 70 Cross St., Ste. B., on Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon.
It is because of the generosity of the Pickerington community throughout the years that the residents in need have felt the warmth generated by the Plaza of Lights, Neville said.
