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August 15, 2012

United Way donates $5K to Salvation Army pantry

ONEONTA -- A recent $5,000 donation to the Oneonta Salvation Army helped stock the shelves of its food pantry for now, Capt. Evelyn Hopping said. With increased demand, donations are always needed, the recently appointed commander said.

The United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties recently donated the funds after receiving an email about the situation from the area hunger task force.

Hopping said after she arrived in Oneonta in late June, the food pantry, like others in the area, was in need because of the number of people seeking assistance.

The pantry that had provided assistance to 1,228 households in the first seven months of 2011, has served 1,747 in the same time period this year.

Although she has only been in her post a short time, the situation is similar to other locations, she said, because of several factors. The effect of a weak economy, which is seeing a variety of price increases without a similar increase in wages, has been exacerbated with children out of school for the summer and in need of food at home.

Other groups that have helped the Salvation Army restock include the Bassett Healthcare Network, New York Center Mutual Insurance, SUNY Oneonta, the Oneonta City Stallions football team, local churches and other organizations.

United Way Executive Director Terry Capuano said her organization was aware of the need for area food pantries, especially after helping the one in Margaretville rebuild. This was aided by funds raised for flood recovery following last year's storms. She brought the recent request to the organization's board of directors, and "they rose to the occasion," she said. Realizing the need at other food pantries, the United Way will be involved in community projects to help this fall as part of its annual kickoff.

"Individuals and businesses in our area give to the United Way because they know they can trust us to make a difference with their gifts," United Way Board President Tim McGraw said. "This gift demonstrates that this trust is well-deserved."

Hopping, 53, came to Oneonta after being the commanding officer at the Salvation Army in Watertown since 2005. Before that, she led the organization in Fulton since 2000. She was born in Rome and has been involved with the Salvation Army her entire life.

"I knew for quite a while that God was calling me" to serve in the organization, she said. She worked a couple of years for the board of education at Rome City School District, before following that direction and beginning training in 1998.

She said she finds the area to be "a very welcoming and caring community. I am looking forward to spending many years in Oneonta."

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