LIMA — A local masonic association donated money to the Veterans Food Pantry of Northwest Ohio on Friday to help ensure local veterans and their families don’t go hungry.
Hiram’s Riders, the local chapter of the Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association, presented a $1,533 check to the food pantry after raising money through a variety of fundraisers throughout the year.
“Veterans do a lot for our country, so this is just our way of giving back a little bit to the veterans that did so much for us,” said David Detrick, president of Hiram’s Riders. Detrick added that they also donated more than $300 to the food pantry last year.
While the food pantry receives most of its food and drinks from the West Ohio Food Bank, co-director Betty Wharton said the donation will help.
“It’s very important because we go through periods of time where things slow down,” Wharton said. “Donations like this carry us through those times.”
Kay Sellers, another co-director of the food pantry, said they wouldn’t be able to survive without these type of donations.
“It means that we’re going to be able to serve more veterans,” Sellers said. “Right now, we’re a little over 350 a month that we serve, and with family members included, it comes out to over 1,000.”
Sellers added that the food pantry serves 11 counties, and averages between 20 and 25 new families a month. The food pantry is open to veterans, their families, widowed veterans who have not re-married, and families of active duty service members.
The food pantry is located in the former Q’s Smokin BBQ & Fixin’s at 810 W. North St.
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