MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Volunteers with the Scott’s Run Settlement House are calling for residents willing to donate extra food.
In response to low inventory after the Easter and Memorial Day holidays, Scott’s Run Settlement House Program Director Michael Richard announced that open donation periods will begin starting Thursday at their two locations. Four separate donation periods will be hosted at the Scott’s Run Settlement House locations in Cheat Lake starting next week, with the one other donation time scheduled at their offices in Osage. Each donation period will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
“We are at our Cheat Lake facility, 750 Fairchance Road, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday,” said Richard on where the donations will take place and when. “And then we are at our Osage location, the original location, on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.”
According to Richard, traditional non-perishable food items are the most recommended items to be donated for anyone using the Scott’s Run Settlement House food pantry. This includes canned fruits and vegetables, whole grain items, and rice, as well as boxed drinks that can be given to families with young children. While both the Cheat Lake and Osage locations have been affected by low food supplies, Morgantown area residents are encouraged to donate to the Osage location, which has a near-empty food bank.
“Both of our food pantries, but especially at our Osage location, soups, juice, canned fruits, canned vegetables, grains, and things like that (will be accepted),” said Richard.
Anyone who wishes to offer a food or monetary donation to the Scott’s Run Settlement House but is unable to attend one of the daily drop-off periods, Richard stated, can have accommodations made. Along with opportunities to donate monetarily online through multiple portals, volunteers will also be willing to designate drop-off times out of schedule in order to have food directly used for community needs. Any arrangement can be made with the help of Scott’s Run Settlement House administrators.
“Donations can be brought up during those times, and if those times don’t work, give us a call, and we can try to work with something to get a donation dropped off,” said Richard.
Richard also encourages residents to keep an eye out for future efforts that will be taken by the Scott’s Run Settlement House in the coming months. This includes a Christmas in July collection event where residents will be asked to donate cleaning items, food, and Christmas in July gifts for less fortunate families with young children. With donations already getting prepared for that event despite a near-empty food bank in at least one location, Richard hopes Morgantown area residents who are able to donate are willing to do so.
“The need is there, and unfortunately our shelves are getting a little bit bare, so any support from the community would be greatly appreciated,” said Richard.