By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
Canadian County’s emergency food cupboard will “ham it up” this Saturday afternoon.
The third annual “Ham Roll” will be staged from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Manna Pantry, 620 N Cemetery Road inside the Together We Center.
The community’s generosity is apparent as civic-minded residents have brought in many hams in recent days, according to Manna Pantry Director Sherri Rogers.
“We appreciate all the support that we receive,” said Rogers, noting several holiday food drives that keep the pantry’s shelves stocked.
Some 350 hams were given out in 2022. Rogers expects that number to be close to 500 this time.
Manna Pantry’s regular clients are eligible to receive these free hams – or turkeys if they don’t eat pork.
But they must each have a paper ticket, which they get when then come shop on their normal food-pickup day in the pantry’s grocery store.
Hams are easier to store than turkeys because they don’t have to be frozen, Rogers pointed out.
The donated hams are being kept in Manna Pantry’s large cooler until Saturday’s big distribution.
VOLUNTEERS WELCOME
Volunteers are welcome to help pass out the hams (and turkeys) to the grateful recipients.
“We can always use more help,” Rogers said. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of Manna Pantry.”
Clients will simply pull up in their vehicles in the Together We Center parking lot before driving off with their Thanksgiving meal centerpiece.
Thanksgiving will be observed on Thursday, Nov. 23.
Since January 2022, Manna Pantry has served people across Canadian County from its 2,000-square foot space inside the Together We Center. The ministry is part of Trinity Baptist Church-Yukon.
Hungry individuals and families may come get food on Mondays and Thursdays from 5-8 p.m., Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m., and Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
For more information, call (405) 265-0193.
