Spring Break is fast approaching, and Ballantyne Families Helping Neighbors in Need volunteers have been working diligently to serve our approximately 70 families from the 8 schools that feed into and including Ardrey Kell who are currently facing food insecurities.

Our amazing school counselors/social workers are the bridge in our partnership to our families. Currently, we have 60 families requesting food support for spring break. Volunteers packed the bags of food for Spring Break on 3/24 at the food pantry, which is located at Community House Middle School Villa #13.

There are 70 families that will each receive a gift card to either Walmart or Harris Teeter ranging from $110-$220 depending on the size of the family. The food bags and gift cards will be delivered to our 9 schools by volunteers this Friday, 3/31. We have had many groups making encouraging notes for our families that will be in their bags. Counselors/social worker will coordinate with the families to receive the bags.

     - Brighthouse Financial - has graciously donated $15,000 which will cover all the funds needed to serve our families this spring break and any remaining funds will be rolled into our Summer support needs. We are so thankful and fortunate to partner with Brighthouse Financial serving our neighbors in need.

   - Harris Teeter – Donated 700 reusable grocery bags to support our food packing and delivery process. 

   - Heather McAfee - Executive director/founder who continues inspire and guide us all in continuing to be a helping hand to our neighbors in need. 

    - Lauren Rosenbaum - Our secretary has worked closely with Brighthouse Financial and their continued partnership with Ballantyne Families. Their donation was crucial to our spring break food support grocery gift cards. 

    - Erin Furey and Audi Nafzger - our pantry managers organize how the pantry runs. They prepared specific lists and made sure the food needs were all available for volunteers to pack. 

      - Sheilah White and Tammy Menzel - Our assistant pantry managers made sure each product needed was stocked with inventory including some dietary restrictions of our families. 

     - Wonderful volunteers came and shopped the pantry to fill bags of food that will make their ways to the families who need them. We really appreciate your help :  Amulya Deepak, Brooke Schonfeld, Sheila Matthews, Michelle Rowan, Monika Chandra, Heather Fray, Karen Starkey, Paul Starkey

     - Our school counselors/social worker go beyond to let families know we are here for assistance. They truly are amazing to our families and help create a bridge to families.:Jon Rochester (AK), Corinne McBrier/Julie Romanin (Ballantyne Elementary), Amber Brown (Elon Park Elementary), Taletha Tucker (Endhaven Elementary), Mary Bleich (Hawk Ridge Elementary), Melissa Stevenson (Polo Ridge Elementary), Valerie Johnson (Community House Middle), Lisa Smith (Jay M. Robinson Middle), Amber Heine/Kristin Gartner (Rea Farms) 

     - Julie White -Notes Coordinator leads the effort to create encouraging notes that really lift and brighten a family’s day to see someone took the time to create a beautiful card for them. She herself made many cards and worked with several groups to make this amazing project come to life:  Community House Middle School NJHS/Ms. Christine Babao, Ridge Road Middle School NJHS/ELA Students/Ms. Emily Hoar, Charlotte Moms of Multiples, Charlotte Latin School, Ann DelVecchio, Debora Pupo and Family, Twisha Shetty, Lisa Janowicz, and Olivia White. 

     - Debora Pupo – Communications Chair leads our communication efforts. 

     - Sally Pickard – Social Media Chair leads our social media postings. 

     - Maurisa Singer – Creates our Signup Genius’ to coordinate support for our efforts. 

Thank you so much in advance for your help and continued partnership. It is beautiful to see how our Ballantyne community has continued to care and lift-up our families who are experiencing challenging times. As it has been said before it truly does take a village. Ballantyne should be proud of our village.