"Watching People Feed The Hungry Feeds The Soul" Laura Campbell, Volunteer At Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry

Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry(Top left)Martin Aponte, Laura Campbell, Phylis Anderson, Executive Director Pat Westlake, Richard Macellaro, Mary Fjellstad, Norma Martin, and Cate Carlson. Democratic Committee members Martin Aponte and Richard Macellaro delivered twenty turkeys donated by the committee to the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry.

By Erica Jackson

“Let us not become weary in doing good” Galatians 6:9

Just hours before the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry opened its doors on Monday morning, Patricia Westlake, director of the pantry, thought she would have to put together a shopping list and head out to the supermarket to fill the pantry’s shelves for the needy this Thanksgiving.  To her surprise, however, she found boxes and boxes of donations on the steps of the pantry, located at 90 Edgewater Avenue in Smithtown.  
“It’s was like loaves of bread and fish,” said Westlake.  “Donations just started pouring in. We don’t even have room to walk”Pat Westlake Sr. Elected Lay Leader and Reverand Cannon Dr. Raewynne Whiteley, Rector, St. James Episopal Church,
For the past 26 plus years, the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry has supplied Thanksgiving dinners to families in need.  
This year, they plan to provide numerous families with a turkey and all the trimmings.
“The families will come in and we will give them all the makings for a Thanksgiving meal,” said Westlake.
Last year, the pantry supplied some 67 families with dinners, but this year 100 families signed up.
Westlake believes the economy has played a major role in the increased need.
The majority of the families, said Westlake are from the The Town of Smithtown. Many she said, are working families, who can pay their mortgage and electric bill, but don’t have extra funds for food.
Aside from receiving a turkey, stuffing, cranberry and potatoes, Westlake said the families will be treated to pies and cookies thanks to the generosity of the community.
“We even have candy for them,” said Westlake.
Donations, said Westlake came from all over, including the schools, the Rotary Club, Jack and Jill Club, Elks members, Democratic Committee and Smithtown Resident Michael Gendron - Donating Turkey’s residents.
Several organizations and residents even handed Westlake formidable cash donations. One man, said Westlake walked in this week with a $400 check — money he collected from friends at a dinner.
Donations received during the holidays, said Westlake keep the pantry stocked through June.
“The holidays are an important time for us,” said Westlake
Aside from providing Thanksgiving dinners, those in need are welcome to visit the shelter on a monthly basis to pick up food items.
“For the most part,” said Westlake, “We supply them with three days worth of food.”
Families can shop the pantry’s shelves for beans, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, pasta, and sauces.
On some days of the month, depending on donations, the pantry supplies families with meats, milk, eggs and fresh bread.
The pantry is run by all volunteers, who are members of seven local churches that founded the pantry.
The churches include the Byzantine Church of the Resurrection, First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, Smithtown United Methodist Church, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, St. James Episcopal Church, St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church and St. James Lutheran Church.
According to Westlake, the churches joined together after the Smithtown Soup Kitchen closed. At first, she said, many believed that a food pantry in a wealthy Smithtown just isn’t needed.
“But here we are twenty-seven years later,” said Westlake.
In proving the need, Westlake said the pantry helped some 950 families last year alone. And Lowe’s in Stony Brook just recently adopted the Pantry, supplying it with new flooring, shelves and a freezer chest.
While its Thanksgiving food drive is coming to a close, Westlake said the pantry is always in need of donations, especially juice, tuna fish, cereal, chunky soups and pork and beans,.
The pantry is open for donations ot to those in need Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.