PATCH VOICES: A Call to Help Neighbors Who Have a Need

by Jeffrey Landers

For those who have participated before, you know the joy of serving the needy in our community at this special holiday — THANK YOU. For those who haven't been to one of the many Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League's Thanksgiving food drives you are in for a treat. Mark your calendar now for the Saturday before Thanksgiving — Nov. 23 — we start packing around 9 a.m. and hopefully will have all 50 or so baskets delivered by 1 p.m.

Please, please make plans to attend and lend a hand even if it’s simply an hour— we will be on the basketball court of Lang Carson Park. Children are more than welcome.

Also we are very much in need of donations: money (to buy food!). Money can be given to me via check (made out to RCIL) or through this digital link. Any amount counts and we are so grateful. They are tax deductible and 100 percent of donations go to simple healthy food for your neighbors!! 

Lastly, if you know of neighbors who are in need in Cabbagetown or Reynoldstown — even Edgewood — who are either either longtime or recent residents please let us know. We rely on on-the-ground intel and neighborly neighbors to feed that information up to our list. E-mail me or any RCIL officer and we will get these folks a wonderful and appropriately sized basket with cans, boxes, turkey, and fresh veggies.

And double lastly if you would like to deliver boxes of food please bring a vehicle of some shape—we even delivered some in a wheelbarrow and by hand last year! This is the most gratifying part of it all...we hope we’ll make connections to last a long long time. 

We can all help a little: time, talents or treasures — hope you will participate. I will let everyone know with a few more needs regarding boxes and possibly get up a team to procure vittles.

Mr. Landers is on the RCIL's board of directors.