Sharon paper and soap pantry is growing

SHARON — With food pantries helping to bring nutrition to the tables of those who cannot afford to feed their families, it became clear to the Rev. Jody Guerrera, associate pastor of the Sharon Congregational Church, and other clergy that another everyday need was going unfulfilled. Families who cannot afford food also have a hard time affording personal hygiene products such as soap, paper goods and toothpaste. Many families in the Northwest Corner and adjacent New York towns, are having a difficult time due to unemployment, divorce, disability and health issues among other life challenges.Guerrera and the Rev. Terrence Ryan recently recounted how the soap and paper collection is progressing. Guerrera said, “People have been very generous giving paper towels, diapers, toothpaste and all kinds of paper goods. We had enough goods this past Sunday to cover an entire table from which folks helped themselves.“Many women and children come to the food pantry and also need paper and soap products. Food pantries do not have any money leftover to also purchase soap and paper products.”Guerrera who sees her main mission as tending to the spiritual health of her congregants, also said, “A large part of what we do is action, meeting peoples’ needs, all of their needs. We take care of the weak.”Ryan said, “One of the things we see is that basic human needs have exploded in the last few years, far beyond the capacity of any government agency or community to really meet the needs of people who are struggling, as a result of the recession. These are hard times and they are getting harder.”Donations of soap, diapers of any size, dental hygiene products, all kinds of paper goods, are accepted at the Sharon Congregational Church. For times when donations may be left, call 860-364-5002. Unopened travel size products, such as shampoo and bath soap found in hotel rooms, are also welcome.

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